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 14, 2025
Docket Number: 51148
Justia Opinion Summary: Sherry Cole filed a formal complaint against Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) alleging she had been overbilled due to her power meter being cross-connected with her neighbor’s. Initially, an RMP employee confirmed the…
Date: March 12, 2025
Docket Number: 52309
Justia Opinion Summary: Elizabeth Corey Raber (Mother) and Michael Robert Raber (Father) married in 2019 in Texas and had one child. They moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in June 2020. Their relationship involved significant conflict, including a…
Date: March 3, 2025
Docket Number: 50748
Justia Opinion Summary: Julene and William Dodd sued their attorney, Rory Jones, for legal malpractice after he missed the statute of limitations deadline for filing their medical malpractice lawsuit. The Dodds needed to prove that their…
Date: February 27, 2025
Docket Number: 49946
Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the paternal grandmother, Natasha Ray, was appointed as the temporary guardian of a minor child shortly after the child's birth in 2015, with the father's consent. Over the next five years, the child's…
Date: February 27, 2025
Docket Number: 50973
Justia Opinion Summary: A child was born to Anthony Lowman and Kayla Morgan-Smart in 2015. The child's paternal grandmother, Natasha Ray, was appointed as her temporary guardian shortly after birth. Ray was later allowed to intervene in the…
Date: February 27, 2025
Docket Number: 51274
Justia Opinion Summary: Dan Lee Gearhart and Kristin A. Marlar divorced in September 2018, with Gearhart ordered to pay monthly child support. Gearhart applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for himself and his…
Date: February 14, 2025
Docket Number: 50935
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2019, Colby James Bray died while in the custody of the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections (IDJC). His parents, Jeffrey and Michelle Bray, acting as personal representatives of his estate, filed a wrongful death…
Date: January 22, 2025
Docket Number: 51027
Justia Opinion Summary: Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services, Inc. (IFS) applied for a conditional use permit (CUP) to operate a large-scale low-barrier shelter home in Northwest Boise. The Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) initially denied…
Date: January 17, 2025
Docket Number: 50433
Justia Opinion Summary: Manuel and Melissa Rose purchased property from the F & M Martino Family Trust, with Fred and Michelle Martino acting as trustees. The warranty deed did not reference a previously recorded Boundary Line Agreement (BLA)…
Date: December 31, 2024
Docket Number: 49587
Justia Opinion Summary: BrunoBuilt, Inc. contracted with William and Amy Dempsey to build a home in the Boise Foothills. With the help of insurance agent Randy L. Richardson, BrunoBuilt purchased a Tailored Protection Policy (TPP) from…
Date: December 31, 2024
Docket Number: 50200
Justia Opinion Summary: Dustin Clover sustained injuries while removing irrigation drip tape from a seed field while working for Crookham Company in 2018. Clover filed a complaint against Crookham, alleging that his injuries fell within an…
Date: December 23, 2024
Docket Number: 50660
Justia Opinion Summary: Chesla A. Scott challenged the Idaho Department of Labor's service of three determination notices, claiming she did not receive them while temporarily working out-of-state. The Department mailed the notices to her last…
Date: December 20, 2024
Docket Number: 51148
Justia Opinion Summary: Sherry Cole filed a formal complaint against Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) alleging she had been overbilled due to her power meter being cross-connected with her neighbor’s. Initially, an RMP employee confirmed the…
Date: December 20, 2024
Docket Number: 51723
Justia Opinion Summary: A mother and her fiancé filed a petition to terminate the biological father's parental rights and allow the fiancé to adopt the child. The mother did not serve the father with the petition, and he did not participate in…
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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