Mission Statement
 

The Fourth Judicial District is committed to providing equal access to justice, promoting excellence in service, and increasing the public's trust and confidence in the Idaho courts.

The Honorable Mike Wetherell Administrative District Judge   Larry D. Reiner Trial Court Administrator

Welcome to the Fourth Judicial District Court of the State of Idaho.  The judges of our Bench and our entire courthouse family have compiled this information so that you may learn more about the court and better understand its process and procedures.  Ada County, Idaho, was established on December 22, 1864, with its county seat at Boise.  The county was named for Ada Riggs, the daughter of H. C. Riggs, one of the founders of Boise and a member of the Idaho Territorial Legislature.  Boise became the capital of Idaho in 1865.  The state of Idaho is divided into seven judicial districts, each with an Administrative District Judge who is chosen by the other district judges in the district and a Trial Court Administrator (TCA) who is selected jointly by the Administrative District Judge and the Administrative Director of the State Courts.  Thirty-one judges comprise the Fourth District which encompasses Ada County, Elmore County, Boise County, and Valley County.

Ten district judges are authorized for the Fourth Judicial District with jurisdiction over felonies (the most serious criminal matters) as well as civil matters in which the amount in controversy exceeds $10,000.  District judges also hear post-conviction relief actions in which a defendant is challenging his or her conviction or incarceration.  District judges also preside over appeals from decisions made by magistrate judges.  Twenty-one magistrate judges are authorized for the Fourth Judicial District with jurisdiction over misdemeanors (less serious criminal matters) as well as civil cases in which the amount in controversy is less than $10,000.  Magistrate judges preside over preliminary hearings, habeas corpus proceedings, probate cases, juvenile cases, domestic relations cases, and small claims cases (civil disputes involving less than $4,000).  The greatest number of cases handled by magistrate judges includes misdemeanor and infraction cases, most frequently in the form of traffic citations.