Labrador bill would add 3rd judge

Rep. Raúl Labrador, R-Idaho, today moved to relieve Idaho’s overloaded federal courts by introducing a bill authorizing a third U.S. District judge. Since 2015, Idaho has had just one full-time district court judge and the Judicial Conference of the United States has declared a judicial emergency. To fill the gap, 17 judges from other states have presided over Idaho cases in the last four years.

“I applaud the hard work of judges and clerks to keep the courts running, but Idahoans deserve a system with resources ensuring fairness and efficiency,” Labrador said. “‘Justice delayed is justice denied’ is more than an old adage. The courts are essential to our system of government and delay has dire consequences.”

Idaho’s caseload per judge ranks 34 ^th among the 94 federal district courts, with felony criminal filings ranking 11 ^th . Hearing cases in Boise, Coeur d’Alene and Pocatello, judges work 60- and 70-hour weeks.