Rating: 0

Bill Summary:

Senate Bill 1028 amends Idaho Code §1-802 to increase the number of district judges serving in the First Judicial District from seven to eight. This district includes the counties of Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, Shoshone, and Benewah. The bill specifically adds a new resident chamber located in Kootenai County, increasing that county’s allotment of resident judges from four to five. The purpose of the bill is to provide additional judicial capacity in response to the growing demands on the court system in northern Idaho. It includes an emergency clause and is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Reason for Rating:

While the bill may improve access to justice and reduce case backlogs in a fast-growing region of the state, it represents a straightforward expansion of government staffing without broader judicial reform or measurable benchmarks. The Idaho Republican Party Platform emphasizes limited government and fiscal restraint, and this bill increases the judiciary’s footprint without offering cost-control measures or accountability improvements. At the same time, the platform also supports the efficient administration of justice and due process, which an additional judge may help facilitate. Because it reflects competing platform principles—both judicial function and limited government—this bill is best rated as neutral.