Idaho Supreme Court - Civil Decisions
Under the Idaho Constitution of 1890, the Idaho Supreme Court holds appellate jurisdiction over final decisions in district courts. Many of these cases reach the Supreme Court upon an appeal from the Idaho Court of Appeals, but the Supreme Court also may choose to review a case in the Court of Appeals at its discretion. The Supreme Court also may review appeals of orders by the Public Utilities Commission, the Idaho Industrial Commission, and the Industrial Accident Commission. It holds original jurisdiction to issue certain types of writs, such as writs of mandamus and habeas corpus, in addition to original jurisdiction over cases against the state government. The Court rotates among locations in Boise, Coeur d’Alene, Moscow, Lewiston, Pocatello, Rexburg, Idaho Falls, Caldwell, and Twin Falls
To serve on the Idaho Supreme Court, a candidate must be a U.S. citizen, an Idaho resident for at least two years, and at least 30 years old. They also must have practiced law in Idaho for at least 10 years. Five justices serve on the Court. Idaho selects justices by using a non-partisan election. In other words, candidates are listed on the ballot without their party affiliation. However, if a justice needs to be replaced before the end of their term, the assisted appointment method applies. This means that the Idaho Judicial Council sends a list of candidates to the Governor of Idaho, who will choose the interim justice. Each justice generally serves a renewable six-year term, although the Chief Justice serves a four-year term. The Chief Justice receives their appointment from the Governor after being chosen by a majority of the current justices.
A justice may be removed from the Idaho Supreme Court if the Court determines that removal is appropriate upon the recommendation of the Idaho Judicial Council. A justice also may be removed if they are impeached by the Idaho State Legislature in a majority vote and by the Idaho State Senate in a two-thirds vote.
Recent Decisions From the Idaho Supreme Court - Civil
Date: March 5, 2024
Docket Number: 50197
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of the State of Idaho affirmed a lower court's decision upholding the denial of a preliminary plat application by Renaissance Project Development, LLC for phases two through five of the Shoshone Heights…
Date: February 27, 2024
Docket Number: 49773
Justia Opinion Summary: This case involved a property dispute between neighbors Robert and Debra Talburt and Miles and Leanne Millard in Idaho. The Millards sought to establish their rights to a disputed tract of land and two easements, as well…
Date: February 22, 2024
Docket Number: 49801
Justia Opinion Summary: This case involves a dispute between Melissa Sanchez, a tenant, and Chris and Jennifer Pickering, her landlords, over the terms of a lease agreement for a mobile home owned by the Pickerings. Sanchez believed the…
Date: February 2, 2024
Docket Numbers: 49418, 49483
Justia Opinion Summary: Two online fundraising companies, Snap! Mobile, Inc. ("Snap") and Vertical Raise, LLC ("Vertical Raise"), were involved in a dispute. Snap accused Vertical Raise and its CEO, Paul Landers, of poaching its sales…
Date: February 2, 2024
Docket Number: 50000
Justia Opinion Summary: This case arises from a water rights dispute in Idaho. The McConnells sought to transfer their water rights to a new point of diversion on Lee Creek. Their upstream neighbor, Whittaker, protested the application, arguing…
Date: February 1, 2024
Docket Number: 49915
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of the State of Idaho affirmed the judgment of the District Court of the Third Judicial District of the State of Idaho, Washington County, in a medical malpractice action brought by Vivian Nipper…
Date: January 29, 2024
Docket Number: 51211
Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Idaho State Athletic Commission and the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses sought a declaratory ruling that provisions of the Idaho Administrative Procedure Act (APA) requiring…
Date: January 12, 2024
Docket Number: 49371
Justia Opinion Summary: In an appeal from a property dispute in Ketchum, Idaho, the Supreme Court of the State of Idaho affirmed the lower court's judgment, in part, and vacated and remanded the case, in part, for further proceedings. The…
Date: January 12, 2024
Docket Number: 49632
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of the State of Idaho held that the Director of the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) had the authority under Idaho Code section 42-237a.g. to initiate administrative proceedings to curtail the…
Date: January 11, 2024
Docket Number: 49279
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of the State of Idaho affirmed the lower court's judgment dismissing a negligence claim filed by GSN Capital, LLC and Dave Zortman against the Shoshone City & Rural Fire District. GSN's sawmill property…
Date: January 11, 2024
Docket Number: 49487
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of the State of Idaho ruled on a dispute between TCR, LLC, a developer, and Teton County. The developer had sought to record a condominium plat for a planned unit development, but the County refused to…
Date: January 3, 2024
Docket Number: 49547
Justia Opinion Summary: In the case before the Supreme Court of Idaho, Michael W. Skehan appealed a decision affirming the Idaho Central Sex Offender Registry's ruling that he must register as a sex offender in Idaho. Skehan had been convicted…
Date: January 3, 2024
Docket Number: 49976
Justia Opinion Summary: In the case before the Supreme Court of the State of Idaho, the plaintiffs, Dallen and Rachel Worthington, filed an expedited unlawful detainer action against the defendant, Carlene Crazy Thunder, for failure to pay…
Date: December 28, 2023
Docket Number: 50045
Justia Opinion Summary: Amy Shumway was employed as a receptionist at Evans Chiropractic in Idaho. Her employment was terminated by Dr. John Hitchcock, one of the owners, for insubordination. Following her termination, Shumway applied for…
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
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