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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

New Kootenai magistrate judge settling into bench

Coeur d’Alene native adapting to adjustment from local litigating

Caldwell (The Spokesman-Review)
Staff writer

When Kootenai County’s newest magistrate judge first heard the bailiff ask the crowd to rise at his arrival, he wasn’t overly excited or giddy.

Instead, said Magistrate Judge Robert Caldwell, the moment marked a serious tone.

“It was an instant recognition of a whole lot of responsibility,” he said. “That’s what it felt like.”

Caldwell, a 42-year-old Coeur d’Alene native and longtime lawyer, moved to the bench on Jan. 2, taking over for retired Kootenai County Magistrate Judge Eugene Marano. He won the appointment back in October, after an application process that took months.

It was the culmination of a long-held desire.

“Ever since I started practicing law, I was always interested in becoming a judge,” he said. “As I got further into my career, I realized I was hoping someday I’d be fortunate enough to serve as a magistrate judge. Magistrate judges are important because often they’re the first encounter a member of the public might have with the judicial system. I was hoping to be able to contribute something there.”

Unlike district judges, who stand for re-election at the end of their term, Kootenai County’s six magistrate judges are subject to a retention vote, Caldwell said. Voters ultimately decide whether they keep their jobs.

Caldwell graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1985 and attended Washington State University, majoring in economics.

He attended law school at the University of Idaho and went to work in the Coeur d’Alene law office of Charles F. Bean after graduating in 1993. After a few years with Bean, he went to work for the Lewiston office of Regence/Blue Shield.

After four years with the health insurance provider, he returned to Coeur d’Alene to join the law firm of Witherspoon, Kelley, Davenport & Toole, where he specialized in business law and commercial litigation. He also has experience in general litigation and some criminal defense.

A wide variety of cases come before him, including criminal and civil disputes, and all manner of family law litigation.

All of the cases stem from Kootenai County, although on occasion he and his fellow magistrate judges are asked to hear cases from the larger First Judicial District, which also includes Benewah, Boundary, Shoshone and Bonner counties.

“It’s very much like I expected,” Caldwell said. “I feel very fortunate every day.”

He’s also found that the heavy caseload makes for some long, busy days, “but I anticipated that to some degree.

“It’s all day, every day, but I enjoy that actually,” he added. “Every day is different, so that makes it interesting as well.”

Not that it feels like a burden. Instead, Caldwell said he likes his new job, and hopes to be at it for a long time.

“I enjoy interacting with the public and the lawyers both, and being able to contribute to the system itself,” he said.

So far he has presided over pretrial hearings and bench trials, but jury trials will play a role in his future. He said he’ll be interested in seeing a jury trial from his new role on the bench.

“As a lawyer, your focus is on your case. As a judge, you’re focused on the judge’s role, which is a distinct role,” he said. “I think the administration (of a jury trial) is going to be different. You take that for granted as a lawyer. You just assume the judge is doing his job.”

His transition from lawyer to judge has been smooth thanks to the help of his fellow judges.

“We are lucky because we have a very professional, dedicated group of magistrate judges who are hard working and very professional about their jobs,” Caldwell said. “It’s been a real pleasure. They’ve been really supportive and helpful.”

Reach Carolyn Lamberson at carolynl@spokesman.com, or by phone at 765-5422.