Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to provide that judges and justices appointed to a judicial vacancy shall not be allowed to stand for election for the same judicial seat in the next election and to provide certain residency requirements for district judges.

This legislation will ensure that Idaho voters are able to vote for the judge of their choice when a judgeship position becomes open. As the process stands today, when a vacancy occurs in a judge's position, a replacement judge is appointed to fill the vacancy. The appointed judge then becomes an incumbent and is almost guaranteed to win in the next election. This legislation would disqualify an appointed judge from running in the next election, but would allow that same individual to run for a judge's position in a subsequent election.

Amends existing law to provide that certain judges shall not be eligible to serve as a senior judge and may not elect to receive certain retirement compensation.

This legislation will ensure that Idaho voters are able to vote for the replacement judge of their choice when a judge is about to retire. Currently, there is a practice where judges retire so early that their positions are vacated for such a length of time that an appointment is made to fill that vacancy. The appointed judge then becomes the incumbent judge at the next election and is almost guaranteed to be re-elected. This legislation provides that judges must finish their terms if they want to participate in the Senior Judge program, which involves part-time work for judges after retirement. Idaho needs its judges to work part-time after retirement as Idaho's courts typically run at capacity. Judges will agree to these new rules when they file a declaration of candidacy for a new term. Prior to filing a declaration of candidacy for a new term, these new rules will not apply to a sitting judge.