Tobias Defends Additional Judge

North Idaho is one step closer to getting a new District Court judge.

On Monday, Patty Tobias, state administrative director of the courts, defended the plan to give District 1 a new judge in front of the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee.

Tobias, who introduced the legislation earlier in the session, reminded the committee of North Idaho’s drastic need for another judge. The number of District 1 civil and criminal cases has grown dramatically in the past few years, she said.

Because of the constitutional promise to speedy trials in criminal cases, civil cases are being placed on the back burner. The district also has had to borrow judges from other districts just to keep up with its expanding case load.

The committee agreed to send the bill to the full Senate for a vote, which could come later this week.

“We’re going to work like little beavers to get it to pass,” said Sen. Clyde Boatright, R-Rathdrum.

, DataTimes