COEUR d’ALENE, Idaho — After a round of in-person public interviews on May 16, the First Judicial District Magistrates Commission selected Katherine Murdock and Eileen McGovern to fill two magistrate judge seats. The seats were open for appointment due to Judge John Cafferty’s appointment to a district judgeship by Governor Brad Little and Judge Anna Eckhart’s decision to retire, effective June 16.
McGovern has served in numerous prosecutorial positions in Idaho, including Bingham County Prosecutor’s Office, Bannock County Prosecutor’s Office, City of Coeur d’Alene, and City of Post Falls.
During her tenure at Bingham County, McGovern prosecuted felony DUI cases. In an article published by Idaho State Journal on February 15, 2009, McGovern stated, “What I didn’t understand was that prosecuting is primarily about helping folks out, and getting them the right treatment and care … not so much locking people up like folks would imagine.”
McGovern’s latest position as the lead prosecutor for the City of Post Falls started in 2021 and involved prosecuting misdemeanor crimes, including misdemeanor DUI cases. During her public interview, she defended her recent prosecutorial decision to charge a “well-loved member of the community” with battery for actions relating to removal of a trespasser from private property in Post Falls. She told the commission she spends her free time at Lookout during the ski season and enjoys foresting for morel mushrooms.
Murdock has been a deputy prosecuting attorney with Kootenai County since 2018 and previously worked with Bonner County Prosecutor’s Office, as well as private practice in Bonner County. She grew up in rural Sandpoint and told the commission that integrity, honesty, hard work, and helping neighbors were characters traits of a good magistrate judge.
To date, no public announcement has been made as to when McGovern or Murdock will assume their duties as magistrate judges. Neither appointee responded to Kootenai Journal’s request for comment before publication.
During the 2025 legislative session, the Idaho judiciary received a $17,000 raise after the passage of House Bill 322. All Idaho magistrate judges will receive a $164,508 annual salary starting July 1. The bill’s sponsors Rep. Bruce Skaug (R-Nampa), Rep. Dustin Manwaring (R-Pocatello), and Sen. Todd Lakey (R-Nampa) are all attorneys.
The 15-member First Judicial District Magistrates Commission is comprised of the following officials, 11 of which participated in the candidate interviews on May 16.
- Chairman
- Hon. Barry McHugh, Administrative District Judge, Kootenai County
- Magistrate Judge (Appointed by Administrative District Judge)
- Hon. Judge Combo, Magistrate Judge, Kootenai Judge
- County Commissioners (Elected Position)
- Philip Lampert. Benewah County Commissioner (not present on May 16)
- Asia Williams, Bonner County Commissioner
- Tim Bertling, Boundary County Commissioner
- Bruce Mattare, Kootenai County Commissioner
- David Dose, Shoshone County Commissioner (not present on May 16)
- Mayors (Appointed by governor)
- Ronald G. Jacobson — “A” position, Mayor of Post Falls, Kootenai County
- Vacant — “B” position
- Nancy Lewis — “C” position, Mayor of Kootenai, Bonner County
- Electors (Appointed by governor)
- Juli Smith — “A” position, Kootenai County
- Michael Boeck — “B” position, Bonner County (not present on May 16)
- Attorneys (Appointed by Idaho State Bar)
- Mary Cusack — “A” position, Kootenai County
- Craig Zanetti — “B” position, Shoshone County
- Clerk (Appointed by Administrative District Judge)
- Michael Rosedale, Bonner County Clerk
Besides appointing magistrate judges, the commission is tasked by statute to complete studies and/or recommendations for improvement and is responsible for hiring the district public defender, per Idaho Code 19-6007.
