Idaho runs a unified state court system. Instead of separate city, municipal and justice courts layered on top of each other, one statewide structure hears nearly every traffic ticket, divorce, small claims dispute and felony in Idaho. The Idaho Supreme Court sits at the top, and its Administrative Office of the Courts in Boise supports trial courts in all 44 counties. Our directory lists 52 court offices across 48 cities, from Boise and Coeur d'Alene to small towns such as Arco, Dubois and Fairfield.

That design is simpler than in many states, but practical questions remain. Which courthouse is yours? Which judge hears the case? What can you file without a lawyer? This page explains how the system fits together so you can pick the right office and arrive prepared.

How Idaho's Court System Is Built: One Supreme Court and Seven Judicial Districts

The Idaho Constitution establishes the judicial department, and Title 1 of the Idaho Code fills in the details. The Supreme Court has five justices. It hears appeals, writes court rules and oversees court administration. The Idaho Court of Appeals takes cases the Supreme Court assigns to it. Neither appellate court holds trials, so you will only deal with them if you are appealing a decision.

Below them, the state is divided into seven judicial districts, each led by an administrative district judge. Every county belongs to exactly one district. The First District covers the Panhandle, including Kootenai and Boundary counties. The Second covers north-central Idaho around Lewiston and Grangeville. The Third includes Canyon, Owyhee, Washington, Gem and Adams counties. The Fourth centers on Ada County and also takes in Boise, Elmore and Valley counties. The Fifth covers the Magic Valley and Wood River area, including Cassia, Gooding, Jerome and Blaine. The Sixth covers southeastern Idaho, including Power County. The Seventh covers eastern Idaho, with Bonneville, Bingham, Butte, Clark and Teton counties.

Judges, especially in rural districts, often cover more than one county. The judge on your case may sit in a neighboring courthouse on a different day. The county, not the state, normally provides the courthouse building, and the elected county clerk usually serves as clerk of the district court. That is why the clerk's window is so often inside the county courthouse itself.

Judges reach the bench in two ways. District judges are elected in nonpartisan races, and when a seat opens midterm the governor fills it from nominees screened by the Idaho Judicial Council. Magistrate judges are appointed by a magistrates commission in each district and later face retention votes. Knowing this helps if you ever want to understand who is accountable for a courtroom.

District Court or Magistrate Court: Which Idaho Courthouse Handles Your Case

Each Idaho county has a district court with two divisions. Magistrate judges handle the high-volume, everyday work. District judges handle the most serious and highest-value matters.

The magistrate division typically hears traffic infractions, misdemeanors, small claims, protection orders and most family cases, including divorce, custody, child support and juvenile matters. It also holds the first hearings in felony cases, such as initial appearances and preliminary hearings. District judges try felonies, hear civil cases above the magistrate dollar limits and decide appeals from magistrate decisions.

Our listings use names like Weiser District Court, Boise District Court and Arco Magistrate Court. Treat those names as a starting point. In many counties both divisions share one courthouse and one clerk's office, so a magistrate matter may be handled at an address labeled as the district court. Courthouses such as Weiser District Court at 256 East Court Street in Washington County often work this way. Call the number on the listing before you travel and ask which division handles your case type.

Many Idaho counties also run problem-solving courts, such as drug courts, mental health courts and veterans courts. These operate as programs within the district or magistrate court. Entry is by referral or application, usually through a defense attorney or probation officer, rather than by walking in.

Boise and Coeur d'Alene Compared With Rural Idaho Courthouses

Where you live changes the experience. In the Treasure Valley, Boise District Court at 200 West Front Street (208-287-7070) serves Ada County, the state's largest population center. Expect many judges, separate counters for different case types, security screening at the door and busy dockets. Allow extra time for downtown parking and for the line at the entrance.

West of Boise, Caldwell District Court at 1115 Albany Street (208-454-7300) serves Canyon County, a large and growing county. Canyon County belongs to the Third Judicial District, not the Fourth. A Caldwell or Nampa matter therefore goes to a different district than a Boise one, even though the cities sit close together on the same valley floor.

In the Panhandle, Kootenai County has four listings in Coeur d'Alene, the most of any county in our database. One of them, the Coeur d'Alene Jailhouse Court, is listed at 5500 North Government Way (208-446-1170), an address tied to the county jail complex. If your hearing involves someone in custody, confirm by phone whether it is held there or at the main courthouse.

Remember that Idaho has two time zones. The Panhandle and north-central Idaho, including Coeur d'Alene, Bonners Ferry, Lewiston and Grangeville, run on Pacific Time. Boise and the rest of southern and eastern Idaho use Mountain Time. A hearing notice always uses the time of the courthouse, not the time where you live.

Rural courthouses work differently. The magistrate courts in Arco (Butte County), Dubois (Clark County), Fairfield (Camas County), Challis (Custer County) and Council (Adams County) serve small populations across long distances. Staffing is lean, counters may close at midday, and the judge may hold hearings only on set days. Cascade District Court at 219 North Main Street (208-382-7178) serves Valley County and sits in the Fourth District alongside Ada County, though mountain highways separate the two.

What to Do Before You Go to an Idaho Courthouse

A little preparation saves a wasted trip, especially in counties where the nearest courthouse is an hour or more away. Use this checklist:

Keep in mind that state courts are not the only courts in Idaho. Federal cases go to the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, which sits in Boise, Coeur d'Alene, Pocatello and Moscow. Tribal courts, such as those of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and the Nez Perce Tribe, handle certain matters connected to reservation land. Both are separate from the state court offices listed in our directory.

Courts in Idaho operate under a unified state judicial system that handles everything from traffic infractions and small claims disputes to major felony trials and civil litigation. The Idaho Supreme Court serves as the highest state court with authority over all state court matters.

Courts locations are available in 48 cities across Idaho. They are spread across 44 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Coeur d'Alene, Weiser, Hailey, reflecting areas where county seats and urban centers house multiple court divisions to handle high caseloads.

Residents of Idaho should know which court has jurisdiction over their matter — whether it is a municipal, district, circuit, or superior court — before filing documents or appearing for a hearing.

Courts by Counties

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Residents of Idaho who need to access court services should identify the correct court for their matter, check the court's website for filing fees, forms, and procedures, and consider using the court's self-help resources if they are not represented by an attorney.

Browse Courts by county across Idaho to find the nearest location.

Winter Roads, Remote Hearings and Local Quirks Across Idaho

Geography shapes court access in Idaho more than most people expect. Highway 55 links Boise with Horseshoe Bend, Cascade and McCall, and winter storms can slow a drive to Cascade District Court or to Horseshoe Bend Magistrate Court at 383 Idaho 55. Check Idaho 511 for road conditions before you leave. A missed hearing can mean a default judgment in a civil case or a bench warrant in a criminal one, and bad weather is best explained to the clerk before the hearing, not after.

Distance is also why some Idaho courts allow remote appearances for certain hearings. Policies vary by judge and case type, so ask the clerk whether video or telephone attendance is allowed and how to request it. Never assume permission.

Some counties have more than one listing, and the details matter. Boise County lists both Horseshoe Bend Magistrate Court and Idaho City District Court (208-392-4431), while Owyhee County lists Homedale Magistrate Court at 31 West Wyoming Avenue (208-337-4540). In eastern and central Idaho, you will find Idaho Falls District Court at 605 North Capital Avenue, Blackfoot District Court at 501 North Maple Street and Hailey District Court at 201 2nd Avenue South. In the northwest, Lewiston District Court is at 1230 Main Street. Always confirm which office handles your matter before driving.

Idaho traffic infractions are handled by the magistrate division in the county where the ticket was issued. The citation lists the court, your options and a deadline. You can usually pay the fine, which counts as a guilty plea, or plead not guilty and request a hearing. For a ticket written in Power County, you would contact the American Falls Magistrate Court at 543 Bannock Avenue, phone 208-226-7611. Do not ignore the deadline, because an unresolved citation can lead to a failure-to-appear charge or a license suspension. Call the clerk if you cannot tell which court your ticket belongs to.

Idaho small claims cases are heard in the magistrate division and are limited to $5,000. You generally file in the county where the defendant lives or where the dispute arose, and you do not need a lawyer. Typical cases include unpaid rent, security deposits, contractor disputes and personal loans. The clerk can provide the form and explain the filing fee, but staff cannot tell you whether your claim is strong. After filing, make sure the defendant is properly served. Bring contracts, receipts, photos and messages to the hearing. In a rural county such as Butte, the Arco Magistrate Court at 256 West Grand Avenue is the local starting point.

Yes. If you cannot afford filing fees, you can ask the court to waive or reduce them by submitting an application describing your income, expenses and assets. The judge decides, and the court may request more detail. Many people on public benefits or very low incomes qualify, but approval is never automatic. Ask the clerk at your county courthouse, such as Caldwell District Court at 208-454-7300, for the current form. Court Assistance Offices can also help you complete paperwork. A waiver covers court costs, not attorney fees, and fines imposed after a conviction are usually handled separately through payment arrangements.

Both are divisions of the same county district court, so the label shows how an office is commonly named, not a separate government. In Weiser, the courthouse at 256 East Court Street (208-414-2092) is listed as Weiser District Court, yet traffic, small claims and similar magistrate matters are typically handled through the same clerk's office. The Washington County page shows what is listed there. When in doubt, call and describe your case type. The clerk will tell you the building, the counter and the courtroom that apply.

No law requires a lawyer for divorce or custody, and many people file on their own using forms from the Court Assistance Office in their judicial district. At least one spouse must have lived in Idaho for six full weeks before filing. You usually file with the clerk in the county where you live, and the magistrate division typically hears the case. Cases involving children, significant property, business interests or a custody dispute are safer with an attorney. Idaho Legal Aid Services and the Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program offer free or low-cost help to people who qualify.

Idaho courts publish case information through the Idaho Repository, an online search for public cases by name or case number. Some records, such as certain juvenile or sealed matters, are not available. For hearing dates, courtroom locations or whether you may appear by video, call the clerk. Numbers in our listings include Idaho Falls District Court at 208-529-1350, Lewiston District Court at 208-799-3020 and Hailey District Court at 208-788-5521. Have the full party name and an approximate filing date ready to speed up the search. Clerks can tell you what is public, but they cannot interpret orders or advise you.