Latah County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Latah County was created in 1888 and named after Latah Creek. The county occupies a land area of 1,075.9 square miles and has an estimated population of over 39,800. Located in the north-central part of the state of Idaho, its county seat and largest city is Moscow. Latah County is within the Micropolitan Statistical Area that includes Moscow but is combined with the Pullman, WA statistical area. The courts in Latah County include the District Court and the Magistrate Court.

The Latah County court system is part of the Second Judicial District of Idaho. The District Court has jurisdiction over cases beyond the authority of the Magistrate Court, such as civil matters involving more than $10,000, felony offenses, and proceedings for prerogative reliefs like prohibition and certiorari. The District Court also hears appeals of decisions of the Magistrate Court. The Magistrate Court, on the other hand, is a division of the District Court with jurisdiction over probate, domestic relations, divorce, juvenile, and misdemeanor cases. Civil claims that involve $10,000 or less, infractions, and preliminary hearings for felony offenses are also within the authority of the Magistrate Court. The District Court and Magistrate Court conduct their proceedings at the Latah County Courthouse in Moscow.

According to Idaho Court Statistics, the filing rate for civil claims in Latah County is 25 cases per 1,000 residents, while that for criminal cases was 22 per 1,000 residents. Latah County also had a crime rate of approximately 24 reports per 1,000 residents. Most case records in Latah County are considered public unless declared confidential by law or sealed by court order. Interested persons can access case records in Latah County by using the Idaho iCourt Portal or submitting a completed Request Form to the courthouse. For all cases and records that are sealed or considered confidential, it will require special permission or court order to access which the County Clerk can assist with. Cases that are sealed are those that deal with sensitive matters generally surrounding juveniles, custodial and adoption matters, information about jurors, as well as mental health and medical records.

In summary, the District and Magistrate Courts function as the judicial arm of the Latah County government. The courts administer justice by applying the laws to legal disputes and handing down binding decisions. Furthermore, residents can access public court records, ensuring that cases are handled transparently.