Idaho Supreme Court

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Idaho Supreme Court
Court information
Justices:   5
Founded:   1860
Judicial selection
Method:   Non-partisan election of judges
Term:   6 years
Active justices

Daniel Eismann  •  Roger Burdick  •  Jim Jones  •  Joel Horton  •  Warren E. Jones  •  

Former justices

Contents

Founded in 1860, the Idaho Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort.

Justices

The Idaho Supreme Court has 5 justices.
JudgeTermAppointed byParty
Justice Daniel Eismann2001-2019
Chief Justice Roger Burdick2003-2017Dirk Kempthorne
Justice Jim Jones2004-2017
Justice Joel Horton2007-2014Butch Otter
Justice Warren E. Jones2007-2014Butch Otter

Jurisdiction

The 1890 Idaho Constitution gives the Idaho Supreme Court hears appeals from final decisions of the district courts, as well as from orders of the Public Utilities Commission, Industrial Accident Commission, and Idaho Industrial Commission. The Court has original jurisdiction to hear claims against the state and to issue writs of review, mandamus, prohibition, and habeas corpus, and all writs necessary for complete exercise of its appellate jurisdiction. The Court may also review decisions of the Court of Appeals upon petition of the parties or its own motion. For the convenience of litigants, the Idaho Supreme Court is one of the few "circuit riding" supreme courts in the country, and holds terms of court in Boise, Coeur d'Alene, Moscow, Lewiston, Pocatello, Rexburg, Idaho Falls, Caldwell and Twin Falls.[1]

Judicial selection

See also: Judicial selection in Idaho

Judges are selected using the non-partisan election of judges system. Judges serve renewable six year terms. In the event of an interim vacancy the vacancy is filled using the commission-selection, political appointment method of judicial selection wherein the Idaho Judicial Council selects a number of candidates who are forwarded to the Idaho Governor who then appoints one of the candidates to fill the remaining term. The Chief Justice is selected by a majority of the members of the court to a four year term to which they are then appointed to by the Governor. The Chief Justice has the responsibility of presiding over the Court's activities.[2] Since 1950, 68% of Idaho Supreme Court justices initially reached the bench through appointment rather than election.[3]

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications for election or appointment to the court are:

  • Be at least 30 years old.
  • Be a United States citizen.
  • Be a resident of Idaho for the last two years.
  • Licensed to practice law in Idaho for at least 10 years.
  • Be a qualified elector.

Removal of Justices

Justices may be removed in one of two ways:

  • The Idaho Judicial Council investigates a complaints and may then recommend to the supreme court the discipline, removal, or retirement of a judge. The supreme court may review the recommendation of the judicial council and take additional evidence. The court may then reject or accept the recommendation and impose a penalty.
  • Judges may be impeached by a majority vote of the Idaho State Legislature and convicted by a two-thirds vote of the Idaho State Senate.[4]

Caseloads

Fiscal Year Civil appeals Criminal appeals Agency appeals Original actions Disciplinary proceedings Total caseload
2010 101 28 12 5 1 148
2009 120 51 21 7 13 212
2008 160 143 18 39 46 543
2007 199 163 13 49 137 901
[5][6][7][8]

Salaries

The associate justices of the court receive $119,506 annually, and the Chief Justice earns $121,006. [9]

Notable decisions

Court diversity

An analysis by Forster-Long, LLC published by the National Association of Women Judges showed that as of February 2011, the Idaho Supreme Court was just one of three high courts in the 50 American states to have no women on its bench.[10][11]

History of the court

Idaho was first founded as a territory in 1860. The first justices of the Territorial Supreme Court were appointed directly by Abraham Lincoln. When Idaho became a state in 1890, the constitution provided for three justices. In 1919, the number was increased to five, which is how the court has remained to this day.

Notable firsts

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ Idaho Supreme Court
  2. ↑ Idaho Supreme Court
  3. ↑ Idaho Supreme Court Justice: Citizens too stupid to pick their own judges
  4. ↑ Methods of Selection: Removal of Judges
  5. ↑ Idaho Court System, Annual Report, 2010
  6. ↑ Idaho Court System, Annual Report, 2009
  7. ↑ Idaho Court System, Annual Report, 2008
  8. ↑ Idaho Court System, Annual Report, 2007
  9. ↑ National Center for the State Courts, Idaho
  10. ↑ Des Moines Register, "Gender diversity on Iowa's high court is lacking", February 19, 2011
  11. ↑ National Association of Women Judges, "2010 Representation of United States State Court Women Judges"
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IdahoIdaho Supreme CourtIdaho Court of AppealsIdaho District CourtsIdaho Magistrate DivisionUnited States District Court for the District of IdahoUnited States bankruptcy court, District of IdahoUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitIdaho countiesIdaho judicial newsIdaho judicial electionsJudicial selection in Idaho
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