Batt Picks Hosack For New Judgeship N. Idaho District Gets First New Seat Since ‘80

Gov. Phil Batt appointed Coeur d’Alene attorney Charles Hosack to fill the new district judgeship created to help tackle North Idaho’s hefty court caseload.

Hosack, 51, has 25 years of mostly civil law experience, including the past 18 in Coeur d’Alene. He plans to spend the next several months reviewing criminal law and procedures before taking his seat on the bench in January.

“No one has higher expectations than myself,” said Hosack, a partner in the law firm of Lukins and Annis.

Batt chose Hosack from a list of three finalists selected by the state Judicial Council. Batt’s list included Kootenai County Magis trate John Luster and Coeur d’Alene attorney John Mitchell.

High praise from his legal adversaries and considerable experience won Hosack the nod, Batt said.

“He’s a very distinguished practitioner of the law here in Coeur d’Alene,” Batt said.

The 1st Judicial District has not created a new judge’s position since 1980. Civil cases in the region have increased by more than 50 percent during the past 10 years, while criminal cases have increased by 85 percent. The district has been borrowing judges from other regions to handle the heavy caseloads.

“Criminal cases are our judges’ first responsibility, and I think our 1st District judges have met that responsibility well,” Hosack said. “They haven’t had to to address the civil docket. The result is a backlog in the civil docket.”

Hosack, a North Idaho native, graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law. He began his law career in Boise before moving to Coeur d’Alene in 1979.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo