Judicial Vacancies

Notice of Recruitment
Fourth Judicial District
Magistrate Judge - Ada County

Application Deadline: Friday, March 4, 2016 (closed)
Recruitment Schedule
Interview List - May 5, 2016

The Magistrates Commission of the Fourth Judicial District is seeking applicants for the position of Magistrate Judge for Ada County to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Russell Comstock. This position will be available June 1, 2016, and will be chambered in the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, and initially assigned to the Family Law docket.

Effective July 1, 2015, to be apointed to the office of magistrate judge, a person must, at the time of appointment, meet all of the following qualifications:

  • Be at least thirty (30) years of age;
  • Be a citizen of the United States;
  • Have been a legal resident of the state of Idaho for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding such appointment;
  • Have been in good standing as an active or judicial member of the Idaho state bar for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding such appointment;
  • Have held a license to practice law or held a judicial office in one (1) or more jurisdictions for at least five (5) continuous years immediately preceding such appointment;
  • Be a qualified elector of the State of Idaho; and
  • After appointment, reside in the county for which the magistrate judge is appointed.

The appointee may be assigned to hear cases throughout the judicial district and may also be assigned outside the district by the Idaho Supreme Court.  The annual salary for the position is $112,000.00, plus state benefits. 

Application forms are available by U.S. mail or from the Court’s web site by clicking on the link above. You may also request an application from:

Larry D. Reiner
Trial Court Administrator
Fourth Judicial District Court
200 W. Front St.
Boise, ID 83702-7300
(208) 287-7500

The State of Idaho is an equal opportunity employer and its employment practices conform to the requirements outlined in Title I and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Instructions to Magistrate Applicants

All application materials for this position must be received by the Trial Court Administrator of the Fourth Judicial District at the address listed above no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 4, 2016. Do not submit writing samples. No more than five (5) letters of reference/recommendation may be submitted separately to the Trial Court Administrator's Office no later than March 4, 2016.

Late applications will not be accepted. Applications will not be accepted by FAX or e-mail.

Please keep the following in mind when submitting your application:

  • Do not submit writing samples with your application.
  • Do not submit writing samples, letters of reference/recommendation or other documents to commission members.
  • Applicants shall NOT have direct, personal contact with Magistrate Commission members unless initiated by Commission members.
  • Magistrate Commission members shall determine individually whether or not to accept contact from applicant supporters outside of commission proceedings.
  • In addition to the criminal history and tax board checks conducted on all applicants by the IdahoSupreme Court, the Fourth Judicial District Magistrate Commission requires that each applicant submit a completed credit report with their magistrate application. The cost of the credit report shall be the responsibility of the individual candidate, and the completed credit report shall be attached to or included with the magistrate application when submitted to the Trial Court Administrator. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  • Again, any letters of reference or recommendation must be submitted separately to the Trial Court Administrator no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 4, 2016. Letters of reference/recommendation received after this date will not be considered.
  • All applications and any documents submitted therewith or submitted during the application process will be destroyed and not returned to you once the Commission has appointed a magistrate judge.

After the closing date, the names of all applicants will be made public, and the public and the Bar will be invited to comment upon the qualifications of all applicants. Bar ratings are confidential.