Rule 9 Disqualification of Magistrate

If you have a small claims case, you have the right to ask for a different judge if you have concerns about the one assigned to your case. This is called disqualifying the magistrate.

The process for doing this follows the same steps used in regular civil court cases, under Rule 40 of the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure. That rule explains how to file your request, when you need to file it by, and what reasons you can use to ask for a new judge.

If you want to use this option, you should look up Rule 40 to see the exact steps and deadlines. Acting quickly matters, since these requests usually need to be made early in the case.