Deadline nears for judicial applicants

SANDPOINT — Applications are being sought to fill a vacancy on the magistrate court bench in Bonner County.

The vacancy was created when Judge Barbara Buchanan was appointed by Gov. Butch Otter to serve as a 1st District Court judge.

Buchanan, 54, succeeds 1st District Judge Steve Verby, who is shifting to senior status this month.

The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 30.

The position is available immediately. Any attorney aged 30 years old and up who has been admitted to practice law for at least five years is eligible. Applicants must be licensed to practice law in the state of Idaho.

A magistrate judge must also be a qualified voter in Idaho and reside in Bonner County if appointed. The appointee may be assigned to hear cases throughout the judicial district and may also be assigned outside the district by the Idaho Supreme Court.

The annual salary for the position is $109,300, plus state benefits, according to a 1st District Court recruitment notice.

Judges in the magistrate division hear probate matters, initial felony proceedings, divorce proceedings, juvenile proceedings, misdemeanor criminal matters and civil disputes that do not exceed $10,000.

Application forms are available on Bonner County’s website (www.co.bonner.id.us). Applications can also be obtained by contacting Karlene Behringer, 1st District Court administrator, at (208) 446-1217 or kbehringer@kcgov.us.

Late applications will not be accepted, nor will applications that are transmitted by fax or email.