Judicial Branch Idaho Supreme Court Photo courtesy of Bill Farnsworth STATE JUDICIAL DISTRICTS The Supreme Court, as supervisor of the entire court system, estab- lishes statewide rules and policies for the operation of its functions and that of the district courts. The state is divided into seven judicial districts, each encompassing four to ten counties. This regional structure is designed to delegate authority to the judicial districts and to insure their participation in policy decisions while maintain- ing uniform, statewide rules and procedures. An administrative district judge, chosen by the other district judges in the district, performs a number of administrative duties in addition to han- dling a judicial case load. The administrative district judge, assisted by a trial court administrator, manages court operations in the district, assigns judges to cases, and coordinates activities of the clerks of the district courts. Final recommendations for local court budgets and facilities are made by the administrative judge, as well as personnel decisions for the district. The administrative judge also jointly supervises the deputy clerks of the district courts. The administrative judge additionally serves as chair of the district magistrates com- mission, a representative body of county commissioners, mayors, citizens, and private attorneys which, among other things, appoints magistrate judges to their initial terms of office. 260 IDAHO BLUE BOOK IDAHO COURTS Idaho’s court system today is recognized reform efforts which culminated on January as a model for other states. Constitutional 11, 1971, streamlined Idaho’s trial courts amendments in the early 1960’s gave by consolidating the various probate, the Idaho Supreme Court management justice and municipal courts into a general authority over the trial courts, firmly jurisdiction District Court, with a division establishing the Supreme Court’s rule for special types of actions. Thus unified, making powers and providing a method of Idaho’s court system is one of the nation’s supervising trial operations. The judicial most modern in design. Supreme Court The history of the Supreme Court of Justices’ offices and courtroom, in the Idaho begins with the history of the Idaho Supreme Court Building in Boise. Territory. Idaho was made a territory in The Justices of the Supreme Court are 1863 and the first Justices of the Territorial elected at large, on a non-partisan ballot, Supreme Court were appointed by President for a term of six years with their terms Abraham Lincoln. When Idaho became a being staggered so continuity on the Court state in 1890, the Constitution provided will be maintained. A candidate for Justice for three Justices. By an amendment in must be a qualified elector and a duly 1919, the number of Justices was fixed at qualified attorney-at-law. The Chief Justice five, composed of a Chief Justice and four is selected by a majority of the members of Justices. That is the present size of the the court to serve a four year term, with the Court. responsibility of presiding over the Court The Supreme Court of Idaho is the activities during this term. State’s court of last resort. The Court hears Since the primary judicial work of the appeals from final decisions of the district Idaho Supreme Court consists of hearing courts, as well as from orders of the Public appeals and motions, procedures in the Utilities Commission and the Industrial Supreme Court are much different from Accident Commission. It has original those in the trial courts. The appellant, jurisdiction to hear claims against the state usually the losing party in the trial court, Judicial and to issue writs of review, mandamus, attempts to convince the Supreme Court prohibition, and habeas corpus, and all that error was committed in the lower writs necessary for complete exercise court, and that judgment against him or of its appellate jurisdiction. The Court her is erroneous. The respondent, usually may also review decisions of the Court the winning party in the lower court, argues of Appeals upon petition of the parties or that the judgment below was correct. No its own motion. For the convenience of witnesses are heard at a regular session of litigants, the Idaho Supreme Court is one the Court and there is no jury. of the few “circuit riding” supreme courts A case on appeal is presented to the in the country, and holds terms of court in Court upon the record of a lower court or Boise, Coeur d’Alene, Moscow, Lewiston, administrative agency and upon the briefs Pocatello, Rexburg, Idaho Falls, Caldwell and arguments of attorneys for the parties. and Twin Falls. The briefs are the written explanations of The Supreme Court is also responsible the appellants’ and respondents’ versions for the administration and supervision of of the case prepared by their attorneys. the trial courts and Court of Appeals, as During the sessions, attorneys for the well as the operations of the Administrative parties present their arguments and the Office of the Courts, the combined Supreme Justices of the Court may ask questions on Court and Court of Appeals Clerk’s Office their own if they feel that a particular point and the State Law Library. The latter of law needs clarifying. operations are located, along with the CHAPTER 5: Judicial Branch 261 Court of Appeals The Idaho Court of Appeals hears the appeal. In most cases, decisions by the appeals from the district courts which are Court of Appeals are final. assigned by the Supreme Court. While The Court of Appeals has four judges review of decisions of the Court of Appeals who review cases as a panel. While may be sought from the Supreme Court, chambered in Boise, the judges may hear the Supreme Court is not required to grant appeals arguments anywhere in the state. Trial Courts The district court is the trial court probate of wills and the administration of general jurisdiction. A magistrate of estates of decedents and incapacitated division exercises limited jurisdiction. persons; juvenile proceedings; criminal The magistrate division, in turn, has a misdemeanor offenses; proceedings to small claims department. While individual prevent the commission of crimes; may judges may serve either in district court issue warrants for the arrest or for searches cases or magistrate division cases, it is one and seizures; and may conduct preliminary integrated court. hearings to determine probable cause on The district court judges have original felony complaints. jurisdiction in all cases and proceedings. There are 87 magistrate judges, with They may issue extraordinary writs, and at least one magistrate judge resident may also hear appeals from the magistrate within each county. Magistrate judges division, and certain agencies and boards. also hear small claims cases. These are There are 42 district court judges, who sit minor civil cases where $4,000 or less is in each of the 44 counties. They are Idaho involved. The small claims department is attorneys, elected by nonpartisan ballot designed to provide a quick, inexpensive within the judicial district in which they solution to such claims, including cases to serve. Each district court judge is served by recover possession of personal property a court reporter who makes a record of all up to a value of $4,000. No attorneys proceedings and testimony in a case. are allowed in small claims cases, nor Judges of the magistrate division are there jury trials. Appeals from small may hear civil cases where the amount claims decisions are taken to a lawyer of damages requested does not exceed magistrate judge. Additionally, seven $10,000; proceedings in a forcible entry, district trial court administrators assist forcible detainer and unlawful detainer; the Administrative District Judge and the for the limited enforcement and foreclosure Administrative Director of the Courts with of common law and statutory liens on real the administration of the district court. or personal property; proceedings in the Administrative Director of the Courts The Administrative Director of the of the judicial system. The Supreme Court Courts, acting under the supervision and prescribes the following additional duties direction of the Chief Justice of the Supreme to be performed under the supervision Court, has a number of statutory duties and direction of the Chief Justice, which which are specified in Idaho Code Section include: 1-612, including collecting statistical 1. Compile and prepare the annual information about court operations, judicial appropriations request for reporting the need for assistance in the consideration and approval by the handling of pending cases in the trial Court; courts, preparing an annual report for the 2. Develop and administer judicial Supreme Court and Governor, examining training seminars and educational the administrative and business methods programs for the judges and court and systems employed in the offices of clerks of Idaho. the judges, clerks and other offices of the 3. Review and recommend to the courts, and making recommendations to Court calendar management the Supreme Court for the improvement policies. 262 IDAHO BLUE BOOK 4. Advise the news media and the Idaho. public of official functions of the 5. Liaison for the court system as a Court and matters of general whole with the legislature. interest concerning the courts in Supreme Court Clerk The constitutional office of the Clerk of is a valuable resource to district court the Supreme Court performs a variety of clerks in providing assistance and advice important tasks for the judiciary. The clerk’s regarding the preparation of the clerk’s office administers the processing of appeals, record and other relevant documents special writs, petitions, and provides other associated with an appeal of a trial court clerical functions of the Supreme Court decision. The publication of the Idaho and the Court of Appeals. The Supreme Reports is coordinated by the Supreme Court Clerk manages the calendars of both Court Clerk’s office.