- Arrest Records
- Judgments
- Bankruptcies
- DUIs & DWIs
- Felonies
- Warrants
- Jail Records
- Lien Records
- Sex Offenses
- Misdemeanors
- Criminal Records
- Federal Dockets
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 a unified, state-overseen court system with two appellate courts and a district court with a magistrate division in each of its seven judicial districts, funded by a Judicial Branch budget of about $103.6 million for fiscal year 2026.
| Court Level | Court Name | Jurisdiction | Key Functions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appellate | Supreme Court | Statewide appellate and original jurisdiction | Final appeals, attorney discipline, claims against the state and administration of the courts |
| Appellate | Court of Appeals | Cases assigned by the Supreme Court | Hears assigned appeals in three-judge panels; its decisions can be reviewed by the Supreme Court |
| General Jurisdiction | District Courts | Felonies and civil cases over $10,000 in seven judicial districts | Felony trials, major civil disputes, post-conviction relief and appeals from magistrates |
| Limited Jurisdiction | Magistrate Division | Misdemeanors, infractions, civil cases up to $10,000, probate, juvenile and domestic relations | Traffic and misdemeanor cases, preliminary hearings, warrants, divorce and custody matters |
| Limited Jurisdiction | Small Claims Department | Small civil disputes heard by magistrate judges | Informal resolution of minor claims such as deposits and unpaid bills without a jury |
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?
Idaho's trial courts handled an estimated 310,000 new cases in fiscal year 2025, nearly half of them infractions, with roughly 93,000 civil and 58,500 criminal filings. Clearance rates are estimated at close to 100 percent, slightly lower for civil cases because civil filings have risen about 17 percent in two years.
| Case Type | Annual Filings | % of Total | Common Offense/Subtype | Clearance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic | ~155,000 | ~49.9% | Traffic and other infractions such as speeding, seat belt and registration violations | ~100% |
| Criminal | ~58,500 | ~18.8% | Felonies and misdemeanors including DUI, drug possession, theft and assault | ~100% |
| Civil | ~39,200 | ~12.6% | Contract and debt collection, personal injury, property and business disputes | ~95% |
| Small Claims | ~9,800 | ~3.2% | Unpaid bills, security deposits, claims of $5,000 or less | ~100% |
| Domestic Relations | ~27,000 | ~8.7% | Divorce, child custody and support, protection orders | ~100% |
| Juvenile | ~3,900 | ~1.3% | Juvenile corrections and delinquency cases | ~100% |
| Other | ~17,000 | ~5.5% | Probate, guardianships, conservatorships and mental health commitments | ~100% |
| Total | ~310,400 | 100.0% | — | ~99% |
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.
Number of Active Judges — State & Federal
Idaho's justices and judges are chosen through contested nonpartisan elections or commission-based appointments, while federal district judges serve for life. The state reports 154 trial court judges, and the district and magistrate split below is estimated.
| Court | Jurisdiction | Active Judges | Selection Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Supreme Court | Statewide appellate | 5 | Nonpartisan election to six-year terms; Governor appoints from Judicial Council list for vacancies |
| Idaho Court of Appeals | Statewide intermediate appellate | 4 | Nonpartisan election to six-year terms; Governor appoints from Judicial Council list for vacancies |
| District Courts | General jurisdiction trial courts in seven judicial districts | ~53 | Nonpartisan election to four-year terms; Governor appoints from Judicial Council list for vacancies |
| Magistrate Division of the District Courts | Limited jurisdiction division handling misdemeanors, infractions, small claims, probate, juvenile and family cases | ~101 | Appointed by district magistrate commissions; retention elections |
| U.S. District Court, District of Idaho | Federal trial court | 2 | Presidential nomination and Senate confirmation; lifetime appointment |
| Total Active Judges | — | ~165 | — |
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
Average Case Processing Time & Clearance Rates
Processing times in Idaho vary by case type, from weeks for infractions to a year or more for contested civil cases. The figures below are estimates.
| Case Type | Court Level | Average Processing Time | Description | Clearance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic & Parking | Limited Jurisdiction | ~30–90 days | Most infractions are resolved by payment or a short magistrate hearing | ~100% |
| Small Claims | Limited Jurisdiction | ~2–4 months | Informal hearing before a magistrate judge, with a judgment entered shortly afterward | ~100% |
| Misdemeanor Criminal | Limited Jurisdiction | ~3–6 months | Arraignment, plea negotiations, and a bench or jury trial if not resolved by plea | ~100% |
| Civil Cases | General Jurisdiction | ~12–18 months | Pleadings, discovery and motions, with most cases settled or dismissed before trial | ~95% |
| Domestic Relations | Limited Jurisdiction | ~4–9 months | Divorce and custody cases resolved by agreement or a magistrate hearing | ~100% |
| Felony Criminal | General Jurisdiction | ~6–12 months | Preliminary hearing, district court arraignment, plea or jury trial | ~100% |