What are Idaho Court Records?

Although Idaho is the 14th largest state in terms of total area in the United States, its 1.9 million population ranks it 38th among the 50 states. Idaho's court structure comprises three levels: the trial courts, also known as the district courts, the court of appeals, and the supreme court.

Per Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32, a court record is any document or information filed or docketed by a court or clerk of court in connection with a judicial proceeding. Court records in Idaho include:

Dockets

Dockets are official summaries or records of all proceedings, filings, and actions taken in a court case.

Calendar

This is a schedule listing all upcoming court proceedings, including hearings, trials, and other judicial activities.

Register of Actions

A register of actions is a detailed chronological listing of all documents filed and actions taken in a specific court case

Order

This is a formal, written directive issued by a judge commanding or prohibiting specific actions by the parties involved in a case

Index

An index is a list or guide categorizing and referencing case documents, evidence, or other materials for easy retrieval.

Decree

A decree is a formal order issued by a court that often deals with the rights and obligations of the parties in a case.

Judgment

This is the final decision or ruling by a court that resolves the dispute between the parties and determines their rights and obligations.

Minute

This is a brief, official record of what was said or decided during a court proceeding.

Transcript

A transcript is a verbatim written record of everything said during a court proceeding, such as a trial or hearing.

Types of Court Cases

The cases filed in Idaho courts can be broadly broken down into civil and criminal cases. These cases are initiated and punished in different ways.

Civil Cases

Civil cases involve disputes between individuals or organizations over money or injury to personal rights. A civil case begins when a person or plaintiff claims via a complaint filed with the court to have been harmed by the actions of another individual or business, called a defendant. Once the clerk has approved your complaint, the defendant will be given notice of the complaint and must respond with an answer. Common examples of civil court cases in Idaho are:

Divorce and Family Law: Civil cases in this category include matters involving divorce, child custody, child support, and spousal maintenance
Landlord-Tenant Disputes: Cases such as eviction, disputes over lease agreements, or security deposit claims.
Personal Injury Claims: Cases where an individual seeks compensation for injuries sustained due to accidents, negligence, or other causes.
Contract Disputes: Disagreements between parties over a contract's terms, enforcement, or breach.
Property Disputes: Issues related to property boundaries, ownership rights, or property damage.
Debt Collection: Cases where creditors seek to recover money owed by individuals or businesses.
Small Claims: Civil cases involving smaller monetary amounts, where individuals or businesses seek to resolve disputes without extensive legal procedures.
Probate Cases: Matters related to the distribution of a deceased person's estate, including will contests and estate administration.
Business Disputes: Conflicts between businesses or business partners, including disputes over agreements, mergers, or other commercial matters.

Criminal Cases

A criminal case involves an individual accused of allegedly harming society. Criminal cases are generally categorized into two types: misdemeanors and felonies. Misdemeanors are less severe offenses, punishable by a fine or imprisonment in a county jail, and are tried by magistrate judges in the magistrate division of the district court. Felonies are more serious charges, carrying the potential for incarceration in a state prison, and are tried by district judges.

Criminal cases typically begin with filing a complaint, which can be based on a police investigation or a citizen's accusation. The complaint is a formal document specifying the charges against the defendant and must be signed by the victim or accuser, who must provide probable cause to believe that the defendant committed the offense. Once the complaint is filed, the court may issue a warrant for the arrest of the accused or a summons requiring them to appear in court at a specified time.

Common examples of criminal cases in Idaho include:

DUI (Driving Under the Influence)
Drug Offenses
Theft and Burglary
Assault and Battery
Vandalism
Fraud
Weapons Offenses
Homicide
Sexual Offenses

What Are the Different Courts in Idaho?

Idaho operates under a unified court system, where all state courts are overseen and managed by the Idaho Supreme Court, the highest authority in the judicial branch of Idaho's government.

The district court hears appeals from the magistrate division. If a case from the district court is appealed, it goes to the Idaho Supreme Court. Upon review, the Idaho Supreme Court may take the case directly or refer it to the court of appeals. If the case is sent to the court of appeals, there is still a possibility for it to be appealed back to the Idaho Supreme Court.

Small claims courts are designed for quick and efficient case resolution, and as a result, appeals from small claims courts to the magistrate or district court are typically not permitted. A courthouse exists in each county seat of Idaho's 44 counties. Counties with large populations usually have two or three facilities housing their courtrooms.

The following are the courts in the Idaho court system

Supreme Court

The Idaho Supreme Court holds original jurisdiction in cases involving claims against the state, where it provides advisory opinions, in original actions where writs (legal orders directing someone to act or refrain from acting) are requested, and in disciplinary matters concerning attorney conduct. The court has four associate judges and a chief justice, and justices serving in the court are selected for staggered 6-year terms in a non-partisan, at-large election.

However, the Supreme Court's most prominent role is reviewing appeals from decisions made by district courts, as well as rulings from the State Public Utilities Commission and the Industrial Commission. Note that if an appellant petitions the Supreme Court to rehear the decision of a court of appeal, the Supreme Court is not required to grant such a petition.

District Court

Idaho is divided into seven judicial districts; each has multiple counties. Each county has a district court, with one or more judges assigned to preside over cases. There are 39 district judges in the state, each elected to serve a four-year term.

District courts have jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. They handle the most serious criminal cases, including felonies, and typically hear civil cases where the amount in dispute exceeds $10,000. These civil cases often involve personal injury claims, such as those arising from automobile accidents and contractual disputes between parties. Judges in the district court may also oversee domestic relations cases, such as divorces and child custody matters, although magistrate judges often handle these in most counties. Additionally, district judges hear post-conviction relief actions, where a defendant challenges their conviction or imprisonment. They also review appeals from decisions made by magistrate judges.

Appeals from district court decisions are directed to the Idaho Supreme Court, which may assign the case to the Court of Appeals or hear it directly.

Court of Appeals

The court of appeals, located in Boise, began operations in 1982. It hears all cases assigned to it by the state supreme court and acts as the intermediate appellate court in the state. The court has three judges and a chief judge elected in non-partisan elections to six-year terms. Three-judge panels hear cases in this court.

Magistrate Division

Magistrate judges in Idaho handle less serious criminal and civil matters. They preside over misdemeanors and civil cases where the disputed amount does not exceed $10,000. Additionally, they conduct preliminary hearings to decide whether a defendant may be sent to the district court for trial on a felony charge. Magistrate judges are also authorized to issue arrest and search warrants, oversee habeas corpus proceedings, and manage cases involving probate (wills and estates), juvenile matters, and domestic relations such as divorce, alimony, child support, and child custody.

Magistrate judges also serve in the small claims department, often called the "people's court". Small claims involve civil disputes where the amount in question is under $4,000. These cases are handled informally, without attorneys or juries, to provide a quick and affordable resolution for minor claims. Examples of cases that may be filed in the small claims court include a tenant suing for the return of a security deposit, a customer seeking compensation for damaged laundry, or an individual pursuing payment on a bad check or overdue bills. Another magistrate judge reviews appeals from small claims decisions.

The majority of cases overseen by magistrate judges involve misdemeanors and infractions, particularly traffic-related offenses. These cases often originate from citations issued by law enforcement. Appeals from the magistrate division are directed to the district court.

How Many Federal Courts Are in Idaho?

Only one federal court exists in Idaho. This court has jurisdiction over federal cases within the state, including civil and criminal matters. The court handles cases involving federal laws, the U.S. Constitution, civil rights actions, immigration matters, federal tax cases, and disputes between residents of different states where the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.

Furthermore, the federal court in the state has a bankruptcy court that handles all bankruptcy cases. Appeals from the United States District Court for the District of Idaho are heard at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which is based in San Francisco, California.

How Many Court Cases Are Filed Each Year in Idaho?

According to the Idaho Court Assistance Office, over 500,000 criminal and civil cases are filed annually in Idaho's state court system. Per data from the state's case and charge data dashboard, 80,331 civil cases were filed in the state's courts in 2023. Of this figure, 23,269 were family law matters, while 14,677 probate or mental health cases

The state also recorded 59,343 criminal cases in 2023: 13,235 felony cases and 46,108 misdemeanor cases. In 2023, 97,645 criminal charges were filed, 156,761 infraction cases were filed, and 180,860 infraction charges were filed. In the state's federal court, an average of 1,000 cases are filed annually.

How Do I Look Up Court Cases in Idaho?

Idaho Court Administrative Rule (ICAR) 32 outlines the rules for accessing judicial records in Idaho. ICAR 32 applies to all court records, including nearly all records held by the court or its staff, regardless of whether it is formally filed in a case. To request court records, you may submit your request to the official custodian responsible for maintaining the records. Custodians are individuals who are primarily responsible for these records.

If the record is not immediately available, or there is uncertainty about its availability, it is advisable to submit a written request. The custodian has up to three working days to either disclose the record, inform you that more time is needed (with a maximum of ten working days to respond), refer the request to the appropriate custodian judge, or deny the request in writing. If a request is denied, you can appeal to the custodian judge. If the custodian judge denies access, you may pursue the matter in court according to Idaho Code § 74-115.

Idaho's trial courts use a statewide case management system called Odyssey to manage all cases at the trial court level. This system maintains the official court record, which includes all documents filed in each case. Information on individual cases, including the register of actions, can be accessed online through the iCourt Portal. Note that documents from case files are not publicly available online. To obtain copies of court records, visit the courthouse where the case resides. You can access public court records and case information at the courthouses.

Typewritten transcripts of court proceedings may be requested as part of court records. If a transcript is available, you can request a copy from the court clerk, who may charge a fee for reproduction. According to Idaho Criminal Rule 5.2(d), the court may provide a copy of the audio recording instead of a written transcript.

If you want information on court records from the federal court in Idaho, visit the obtaining case information page of the federal District of Idaho website. Opinions of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals are available online on the Idaho Courts website.

Idaho courts allow the public to access data compiled from the court's case management system. To obtain such data, complete the data request form online. To define the extent of your request, you must answer several questions regarding your identity, the purpose of the request, and whether you plan to share any of the data. This information is useful for prioritizing large data requests. Under ICAR 32(f), such requests may be approved or denied based on the availability of resources to fulfill them.

What Court Records Are Not Available to the Public in Idaho?

Per ICAR 32, the following records are exempt from public disclosure:

Juvenile Records: These records relate to juvenile proceedings, such as delinquency and child protection cases.
Adoption Records: Adoption-related documents are sea led and can only be accessed through a court order, ensuring the confidentiality of the adoption process .
Mental Health Commitment Records: These are records involving involuntary mental health commitments.
Expunged or Sealed Records: Criminal records that have been expunged or sealed by the court, including cases where charges were dismissed or a conviction was overturned, are not available for public viewing.
Confidential Court Documents: Specific documents within a case, such as medical records, financial statements, or proprietary business information), may be sealed by the court and exempt from public disclosure.
Other records exempt from public disclosure under ICAR 32