Post Falls prosecutor named magistrate judge

POST FALLS — City staff have announced that city prosecutor Eileen McGovern has been appointed to serve as a magistrate judge.

Post Falls staff shared in a press release that McGovern has been “a cornerstone of our legal team, bringing clarity, professionalism, and heart to every case she touched” after she joined Post Falls as a prosecutor in 2021. 

City attorney Field Herrington said that "the dedication she demonstrated throughout her many years of public service made her an invaluable asset to Post Falls and will no doubt serve her well on the bench."

McGovern will replace Judge John Cafferty after his appointment as district judge for Idaho’s First Judicial District, which includes the five northern counties.

Her final day with the city is Friday, and McGovern begins her services as a magistrate judge Monday.

McGovern was known for seeking resolutions that balanced accountability with compassion. She also fostered interagency cooperation, mentored younger attorneys and helped build a prosecution team known for championing fair solutions, particularly for vulnerable individuals entangled in the justice system.

The release called her courtroom presence "calm, firm, and unfailingly respectful, which earned her the trust of law enforcement officers, city staff, defense counsel, and the judiciary" and noted that McGovern consistently ensured that the city’s legal position reflected both the letter and the spirit of the law. 

Prior to her work with Post Falls, McGovern served as assistant city attorney in Coeur d’Alene.