Kootenai County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Named after the Kootenai tribe and established in the year 1864, Kootenai County occupies about 1,238 square miles of land in North Idaho. Kootenai is home to more than 173,396 residents, making it Idaho's third most populous county. Its largest city and county seat is the City of Coeur d'Alene. The court system in Kootenai County is made up of the District Court and the Magistrate Division.

The Kootenai County District Court has original jurisdiction over all legal matters beyond the purview of the Magistrate Division. It presides over all felony proceedings and civil lawsuits without financial limits. Kootenai's District Court has different Divisions, including the Domestic Violence Court and Family Court. The Domestic Violence Court handles cases involving domestic abuse and protection orders, while the Family Court resolves issues related to divorce, child custody, child support, and parental rights. Other specialized courts operating under the District Courts include the Mental Health, DUI, and Drug Courts. Kootenai County also has a Magistrate Division that handles most misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and felony preliminary trials. The Magistrate Judge resolves small claims involving financial disputes below $10,000. Jury trials do not take place in the Magistrate Division.

According to the Crime in Idaho Data, the crime rate in Kootenai County dropped from 84 crimes per 1,000 persons in 2018 to 62 crimes per 1000 persons in 2023. The country's law enforcers reported more than 11,000 crimes in 2023. Meanwhile, each year, criminal charges filed at the District Court are approximately 11,000 per the Idaho Court Case Data. The trial court also receives about 8,000 civil cases annually. The District Court Clerk in Kootenai County maintains all court records. To view or obtain case files, members of the public can submit public records request forms by mail, email, or in person. Court records are also accessible online via the Idaho Judiciary iCourt portal. In Kootenai County and other Idaho Municipalities, Court Clerks restrict access to confidential and sealed records. These sealed records are confidential due to their sensitivity in nature, typically records and cases having to do with juvenile matters, custody, and adoptions, medical and mental health, as well as personal identifying matters. They require special permission or court orders to access.

In summary, the District Court and the Magistrate Division form the county's court system. These trial courts administer justice efficiently and fairly across various legal matters in Kootenai County. They also ensure that the judicial process remains transparent and open to the public by providing access to court records.