Idaho Judge Salaries Jump by $17,000.
Idaho’s judges are getting a much-needed pay bump, thanks to a new law passed by the 2025 Legislature and signed by Governor Brad Little on March 28. The bill, known as House Bill 322, gives all levels of judges in the state a $17,000 salary increase, effective July 1, 2025.
This raise amounts to at least a 10% increase across the board, aiming to address ongoing concerns about low judicial compensation and growing difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified judges.
What Judges Will Earn Starting This Summer
With the new law in place, magistrate judges will earn $164,508 annually. District judges will make $172,508, appellate judges will earn $178,508, and justices on the Idaho Supreme Court will receive $186,508.
These changes bring Idaho closer in line with neighboring states, where judicial salaries tend to be significantly higher.
The push to raise judicial salaries came after years of declining interest in the bench and a concerning drop in retention rates. According to lawmakers and judicial leaders, the state has been struggling to attract strong applicants, in large part because the pay simply wasn’t competitive.
Senator James Ruchti, a Democrat from Pocatello and a practicing attorney, said the bill was a necessary step to keep Idaho’s justice system strong.
“It’s not as much as we wanted, but it’s a solid increase,” Ruchti commented. “If we don’t increase compensation, we’re going to lose more and more judges, and we’ll struggle to recruit.”
Earlier in the year, Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice G. Richard Bevan proposed a larger pay raise, suggesting Supreme Court justices should make $215,000 and district judges $201,000 but lawmakers felt that number wouldn’t make it through the Legislature. The $17,000 figure was ultimately settled on as a compromise.
Who Was Behind the Bill?
The effort was led by Rep. Bruce Skaug of Nampa, Rep. Dustin Manwaring of Pocatello, and Sen. Todd Lakey of Nampa, all Republicans with legal backgrounds. Ruchti, a Democrat, played a key role in getting the bill introduced and passed.
The bill passed the House with a 57–13 vote on March 3 and cleared the Senate 26–8 on March 21, showing strong bipartisan support.
What It’ll Cost And What’s Next
The total cost of the raise, including associated benefits, is just over $3.8 million per year. That money will come from the state’s general fund.
Supporters say this isn’t the end of the conversation. The lawmakers behind HB 322 plan to revisit judicial compensation during the 2026 legislative session, with the hope of securing additional increases.
“The amount the supreme court had recommended was just too much to get the legislature to agree to it. They picked a number that was a significant increase, but not everything we wanted.” Ruchti said.
Did You Know?
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Idaho ranked 48th in the nation for judicial pay before this raise, according to national compensation studies.
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The average starting salary for an attorney in private practice in Idaho can exceed a judge’s salary – one of the driving forces behind the new law.
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Most Idaho judges work 50+ hours per week, and their rulings directly affect everything from criminal sentencing to family law outcomes.
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In recent years, multiple judicial seats went unfilled in Idaho due to lack of applicants – a growing issue in rural counties especially.
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Many neighboring states, including Utah and Washington, already offer significantly higher pay to their judges – increasing competition for legal talent across state lines.
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