Idaho Code § 34-616
This is the official text of Idaho Code § 34-616, part of Idaho’s Code — part of the compiled statutory law of Idaho, published by the state as "Code." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
34-616 ELECTION — SELECTION — OF DISTRICT JUDGES — QUALIFICATIONS.
Official statutory text
34-616. Election — selection — of district judges — Qualifications. (1) At the primary election, 1974, and every four (4) years thereafter, subject to the provisions of section 34-1217, Idaho Code, there shall be elected in each judicial district a sufficient number of district judges to fill any vacancy or vacancies occasioned by the expiration of the term or terms of office of any member or members.
(2) To be elected to the office of district judge a person must, at the time of such election, meet all of the following qualifications:
(a) Be at least thirty (30) years of age;
(b) Be a citizen of the United States and an elector in the judicial district in which elected;
(c) Have been a legal resident of the state of Idaho for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding such election;
(d) Have been in good standing as an active or judicial member of the Idaho state bar for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding such election; and
(e) Have held a license to practice law or held a judicial office in one (1) or more jurisdictions for at least ten (10) continuous years immediately preceding such election.
(3) Each candidate for election shall file a declaration of candidacy with the secretary of state.
(4) Each candidate who files a declaration of candidacy shall at the same time pay a filing fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) which shall be deposited in the general fund.
(5) To be appointed to the office of district judge a person must, at the time of such appointment, meet all of the following qualifications:
(a) Be at least thirty (30) years of age;
(b) Be a citizen of the United States and an elector of the state of Idaho;
(c) Have been a legal resident of the state of Idaho for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding such appointment;
(d) Have been in good standing as an active or judicial member of the Idaho state bar for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding such appointment; and
(e) Have held a license to practice law or held a judicial office in one (1) or more jurisdictions for at least ten (10) continuous years immediately preceding such appointment.
(6) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(a) "Active," "judicial" and "good standing" have the same definitions as those terms are given by rule 301 of the Idaho bar commission rules or any successors to those rules;
(b) "Jurisdiction" means a state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia or any branch of the United States military; and
(c) "Elector" means one who is lawfully registered to vote.
History:
[34-616, added 1970, ch. 140, sec. 96, p. 351; am. 1970, ch. 231, sec. 1, p. 643; am. 1972, ch. 46, sec. 2, p. 84; am. 1985, ch. 29, sec. 7, p. 57; am. 1996, ch. 28, sec. 12, p. 72; am. 2015, ch. 282, sec. 4, p. 1148; am. 2015, ch. 310, sec. 4, p. 1219; am. 2016, ch. 47, sec. 19, p. 112.]
(2) To be elected to the office of district judge a person must, at the time of such election, meet all of the following qualifications:
(a) Be at least thirty (30) years of age;
(b) Be a citizen of the United States and an elector in the judicial district in which elected;
(c) Have been a legal resident of the state of Idaho for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding such election;
(d) Have been in good standing as an active or judicial member of the Idaho state bar for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding such election; and
(e) Have held a license to practice law or held a judicial office in one (1) or more jurisdictions for at least ten (10) continuous years immediately preceding such election.
(3) Each candidate for election shall file a declaration of candidacy with the secretary of state.
(4) Each candidate who files a declaration of candidacy shall at the same time pay a filing fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) which shall be deposited in the general fund.
(5) To be appointed to the office of district judge a person must, at the time of such appointment, meet all of the following qualifications:
(a) Be at least thirty (30) years of age;
(b) Be a citizen of the United States and an elector of the state of Idaho;
(c) Have been a legal resident of the state of Idaho for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding such appointment;
(d) Have been in good standing as an active or judicial member of the Idaho state bar for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding such appointment; and
(e) Have held a license to practice law or held a judicial office in one (1) or more jurisdictions for at least ten (10) continuous years immediately preceding such appointment.
(6) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(a) "Active," "judicial" and "good standing" have the same definitions as those terms are given by rule 301 of the Idaho bar commission rules or any successors to those rules;
(b) "Jurisdiction" means a state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia or any branch of the United States military; and
(c) "Elector" means one who is lawfully registered to vote.
History:
[34-616, added 1970, ch. 140, sec. 96, p. 351; am. 1970, ch. 231, sec. 1, p. 643; am. 1972, ch. 46, sec. 2, p. 84; am. 1985, ch. 29, sec. 7, p. 57; am. 1996, ch. 28, sec. 12, p. 72; am. 2015, ch. 282, sec. 4, p. 1148; am. 2015, ch. 310, sec. 4, p. 1219; am. 2016, ch. 47, sec. 19, p. 112.]
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Idaho?
Find a Idaho lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.