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Ensuring justice in Idaho federal courts |
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January 13, 2017 |
By U.S. Congressman Raul Labrador
This week I moved to relieve Idaho’s overloaded
federal courts by introducing a bill authorizing
a third U.S. District judge in the District of
Idaho.
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 in our state. To fill the gap, 17
judges from other states have presided over
Idaho cases in the last four years. Idahoans
seeking justice deserve better.
As a young lawyer, I worked in Idaho’s federal
court system and I applaud the hard work of
judges and clerks to keep the courts running.
But Idahoans need a system with adequate
resources to ensure fairness and efficiency.
“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 in both civil and criminal cases.
Idaho’s caseload per judge ranks 34th among the
94 federal district courts, with felony criminal
filings ranking 11th. Hearing cases in Boise,
Coeur d’Alene and Pocatello, judges work 60- and
70-hour weeks. Chief Judge B. Lynn Winmill is
the lone full-time district judge, covering
cases from all over the state.
At statehood in 1890, Idaho had one district
judge. A second was added in 1954 when the
population reached 600,000. Idaho’s population
is now 1.7 million. With two authorized
judgeships, Idaho ranks 90th among the 94
courts.
Judge Winmill is a 30-year veteran of the state
and federal bench and says Idaho would be better
served by reducing the reliance on outside
judges.
“While I totally respect the excellent job done
by my visiting colleagues, they are not expert
on Idaho’s unique culture and history,” Winmill
said. “Idaho cases should be decided by Idaho
judges.”
Winmill said Idahoans endure unavoidable and
expensive delay. “Our number one mission is
handling cases quickly, but there is a limit to
what we can do without adequate judicial
resources. I look forward to working with
Congressman Labrador to ensure that justice in
Idaho’s federal courts is fair, timely and
efficient.”
Idaho’s congressional delegation has been trying
for decades to add a third judge. Sen. Larry
Craig came close in 2003.
As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I
recently met with our chairman, Bob Goodlatte,
R-Va. We discussed efforts to relieve judicial
emergencies in Idaho and 41 other jurisdictions.
Idahoans need judges who truly understand the
law and issues important to the Gem State. I am
hopeful that we will succeed in the new Congress
so the third branch of government will have the
resources necessary to do the job right. |
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