There are five counties that make up Idaho's First Judicial District. They are Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, and Kootenai, and Shoshone Counties.
The First Judicial District Magistrates Commission will meet on November 13, 2026 to select a magistrate judge to replace Boundary County Magistrate Judge Justin Julian in Boundary County, who will retire in the beginning of January 2026. Judge Julian has served as a magistrate judge since January 2, 2001.
The following applicants are being considered:
DAVID V. NIELSEN is an Attorney in Ada County, ID
ANDRAKAY J. PLUID is a Prosecutor in Boundary County, ID
.
Evaluation questionnaires on the applicants will be sent to attorneys statewide. Questionnaires for public comment may be obtained from the First District Trial Court Administrator's office, Kootenai County Courthouse, 501 N. Government Way, Lower Level, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814, (208) 446-1265, email: [email protected]. Evaluations can also be accessed on the First District’s webpage: https://isc.idaho.gov/district-1
Evaluations should be returned to the Trial Court Administrator's office no later than October 30, 2026.
Cover Sheet
Public Questionnaire on Qualifications of
Applicants for Appointment as Magistrate Judge of
The First Judicial District
Pursuant to Idaho Code §1-2205(b), the Magistrates Commission is reviewing applicants for appointment to fill the position of Magistrate Judge of the First Judicial District chambered in Boundary County. The Commission requests your assistance in discharging its statutory responsibilities.
In order to assure proper evaluation of your response, please do the following before starting on the questionnaire:
1. Please print your name and address:
2. Please sign your name:
This cover sheet will be detached from the completed questionnaire. The confidentiality of your responses will be protected.
Complete this questionnaire only with respect to individuals whom you know sufficiently well, based upon personal contact and/or professional experiences, to render a sound and informed opinion. The pattern of responses applicant, rather than the quantity of responses, will be the focus of the Magistrates Commission’s review. (If you have additional remarks, write them on the back of the questionnaire. They will be read and discussed.)
The names and occupations of the applicants are attached to the questionnaire itself. Select those on whom you will respond and then complete the questionnaire. When you are finished, please mail the questionnaire and cover sheet to:
Destry Randles
Trial Court Administrator
First District of Idaho
Kootenai County Courthouse
501 N. Government Way, Lower Level
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814
Email: [email protected]
Your comments must be received no later than October 30, 2026 in order to be considered. Thank you for your assistance.
Public Questionnaire
Instructions:
For each applicant on whom you wish to comment, please state briefly: (a) in what connection you know the applicant, and (b) information you believe the District Magistrates Commission should have about the applicant’s qualifications. The area(s) most important to the Commission are each applicant’s integrity and moral courage, legal ability, legal experience, intelligence and wisdom, capacity to be fair-minded and deliberate, industriousness and promptness in performing duties, compatibility of personal habits and outside activities with judicial office, and capacity to be courteous and considerate on the bench. Please make additional copies of this page if you wish to comment on more applicants.
Last name of applicant on whom you are commenting:
|
Personal or professional experience with applicant upon which comments are based:
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Comments about applicant’s qualifications:
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PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF MAGISTRATE JUDGE APPLICANTS
The First Judicial District Magistrates Commission will meet on November 18, 2026 to select a magistrate judge to replace Kootenai County Magistrate Judge Destry Randles in Kootenai County. Judge Randles has served as a magistrate judge since August 1, 2022 and has been elected to replace District Judge Barry McHugh who will be retiring December 31, 2026.
The following applicants are being considered:
PATRICIA L. ESPELAND is the Lead Attorney for the Idaho State Public Defender in Shoshone County, ID
JENNIFER D. GARWOOD is a Senior Deputy Prosecutor in Bonner County, ID
BRITNEY R. JACOBS is the Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor in Shoshone County, ID
TYLER R. NAFTZ is an Assisting Managing Attorney for the Idaho State Public Defender in Kootenai County, ID
.
Evaluation questionnaires on the applicants will be sent to attorneys statewide. Questionnaires for public comment may be obtained from the First District Trial Court Administrator's office, Kootenai County Courthouse, 501 N. Government Way, Lower Level, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814, (208) 446-1265, email: [email protected]. Evaluations can also be accessed on the First District’s webpage: https://isc.idaho.gov/district-1
Evaluations should be returned to the Trial Court Administrator's office no later than November 9, 2026.
Cover Sheet
Public Questionnaire on Qualifications of
Applicants for Appointment as Magistrate Judge of
The First Judicial District
Pursuant to Idaho Code §1-2205(b), the Magistrates Commission is reviewing applicants for appointment to fill the position of Magistrate Judge of the First Judicial District chambered in Kootenai County. The Commission requests your assistance in discharging its statutory responsibilities.
In order to assure proper evaluation of your response, please do the following before starting on the questionnaire:
1. Please print your name and address:
2. Please sign your name:
This cover sheet will be detached from the completed questionnaire. The confidentiality of your responses will be protected.
Complete this questionnaire only with respect to individuals whom you know sufficiently well, based upon personal contact and/or professional experiences, to render a sound and informed opinion. The pattern of responses applicant, rather than the quantity of responses, will be the focus of the Magistrates Commission’s review. (If you have additional remarks, write them on the back of the questionnaire. They will be read and discussed.)
The names and occupations of the applicants are attached to the questionnaire itself. Select those on whom you will respond and then complete the questionnaire. When you are finished, please mail the questionnaire and cover sheet to:
Destry Randles
Trial Court Administrator
First District of Idaho
Kootenai County Courthouse
501 N. Government Way, Lower Level
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814
Email: [email protected]
Your comments must be received no later than November 9, 2026 in order to be considered. Thank you for your assistance.
Public Questionnaire
Instructions:
For each applicant on whom you wish to comment, please state briefly: (a) in what connection you know the applicant, and (b) information you believe the District Magistrates Commission should have about the applicant’s qualifications. The area(s) most important to the Commission are each applicant’s integrity and moral courage, legal ability, legal experience, intelligence and wisdom, capacity to be fair-minded and deliberate, industriousness and promptness in performing duties, compatibility of personal habits and outside activities with judicial office, and capacity to be courteous and considerate on the bench. Please make additional copies of this page if you wish to comment on more applicants.
Last name of applicant on whom you are commenting:
|
Personal or professional experience with applicant upon which comments are based:
|
Comments about applicant’s qualifications:
|
Clerks
Deputy court clerks process all citations, community service enrollment, applications for a public defender, protection orders and filings for all criminal and civil cases.
Judges
There are twenty-two judges in Idaho's First Judicial District. For more information about jurisdiction and election of the judges, as well as contact information, see the Clerk/Judge Directory.
State of Idaho
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.
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Destry Randles
Interim Trial Court Administrator
Jessica McKenzie
Deputy Trial Court Administrator
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: 208-446-1265