Author: cbelodoff

Attorney coaches needed for high school mock trial teams in Meridian and Blackfoot

Renaissance High School (Meridian) and Snake River Opportunities School (Blackfoot) are participating in the 2024 Idaho’s High School Mock Trial Competition and need an attorney or attorneys to help coach their teams from January to Mid-March.

Attorney coaches serves as consultants for teams, advising team members as they navigate the case materials and prepare for competition. Attorney coach tasks include:

• Familiarizing yourself with the mock trial materials (including the case, the rules of competition, and the simplified rules of evidence).
• Helping teams prepare opening and closing statements, direct and cross examination, and witness performance.
• If possible, attending regional and (if qualified) state competitions with teams.

While the scheduling attorney coach time is upon mutual agreement between the attorney and the teacher-sponsor, attorney-coaches typically spend about 3 hours a week helping with mock trial teams. They meet with their teams once a week or once every other week either in person or on Zoom and are available to answer questions from the teacher and team members between meetings.

Attorneys can coach individually or can partner with other attorneys to form coaching teams. The Idaho Law Foundation’s Law Related Education Program will provide you with a coaching manual and training videos, and can connect you with other attorney coaches who can serve as mentors for newer attorney coaches.

Contact Carey Shoufler if you are interested or would like more information. Thank you for considering this opportunity.

The Resolution Process is set forth in Idaho Bar Commission Rule 906. Resolutions may be submitted by a District Bar Association, the Board of Commissioners, a Bar committee, or an individual member of the Bar. Resolutions submitted by a District Bar Association, the Board of Commissioners, or the Idaho Supreme Court are automatically included in the resolution process. Ballots are due in the Law Center by December 4th, 2023 by 5 p.m.

2023 Resolution Pamphlet

Parties to civil cases filed in Idaho state courts will soon be charged a $5 fee to file documents online through an electronic “envelope.” This change will now take effect Dec. 15, two weeks later than previously announced.

The fee is charged by the vendor that provides the e-filing software used by Idaho courts. The Idaho Supreme Court to date has covered this fee for filers, but amid a reassessment of court technology spending determined it no longer has the resources to do so. Passing this minor cost to filers is the best step to preserve other technology funding for existing court services.

Today’s courts rely on a robust suite of technology including digital case files, videoconferencing, online fine and fee payments, and underlying networking and security systems. The Supreme Court over the past two years has publicly discussed the challenges around funding this technology, including the e-filing fee. As noted in recent annual reports, revenues in the legislatively established court technology fund are declining while the costs of supporting access to justice in a modern court system are on the rise.

The new e-filing fee does not apply in criminal cases or to filers who are exempt from paying court filing fees under existing laws or regulations. It will be a recoverable cost of litigation through existing court rules.

The fee is not a requirement to file in an Idaho court. Any party who is required to file electronically by Rule 4 of the Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service may choose to do so using a kiosk at their local courthouse, paying any applicable fees by cash or check at the office of the clerk of the district court. For civil filings done in this manner, the filer will not be charged the envelope fee.

More information about the envelope fee can be found in this fact sheet. 

Please see the Administrative Order – from the Idaho Supreme Court.

At their February 2023 meeting, the Idaho State Bar Board of Commissioners approved a four-stage phase-out plan for the Desk Book Directory.

Phase One began this year by introducing a new “Rules-Only” book for new admittees.

Phase Two will be in Spring 2024 and will consist of a switch to affirmative opt-in only to receive the hard copy of the Directory. If you wish to receive a hard copy of the 2024-2025 Desk Book Directory, you must affirmatively opt-in. An email will be sent to you with this option in March 2024.

The Rule Book, which is a truncated version of the Directory including only the relevant sets of rules, will be offered as an alternative in Phase Two.

Please be on the lookout for more information in the coming months!

Questions? Please contact Communications Director, Lindsey Welfley.

The Idaho Supreme Court’s Idaho Appellate Rules Advisory Committee is seeking input on proposed revisions to the Idaho Appellate Rules and related rules of civil and criminal procedure.  Please send your comments to Lori Fleming, by November 30, 2023.  Thank you. 

Please see below order in reference to extended time to file due to electronic filing system outage.

The Idaho Supreme Court’s Making the Record (MTR) workgroup is seeking input on proposed revisions to the Idaho Court Administrative Rules and the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure regarding court records and transcript fees.  A copy of the revisions can be found on the Court’s website.  Please send your comments to Deena Layne, by Tuesday, November 7, 2023.