Rule 57 Time standards for case processing

Idaho courts set goal times for how long different types of cases should take to finish. These are guidelines, not strict deadlines. They help judges, lawyers, and people involved in a case know what to expect.

For civil cases, district court cases should wrap up within 540 days of the complaint being filed, and magistrate court cases within 180 days. Felony cases have two stages: 30 days to decide if the case moves to district court, then 150 days from the first district court appearance to finish the case. Misdemeanors should take 90 days, and infractions (like traffic tickets) should take 60 days.

Family law cases, including divorce and child support, aim for 180 days. Small claims cases should be done in 90 days. Juvenile cases under the Juvenile Corrections Act aim for 90 days, while child protection cases follow separate rules found in the Idaho Juvenile Rules.

These time goals apply to the typical, or median, case in each category. Judges should try to meet these goals for every case, but they can take more time if there is a good reason. Most importantly, a case will never be thrown out just because it took longer than these guidelines suggest. The rule is meant to help courts manage their schedules, not to punish anyone for delays.