Pocatello magistrate named 6th District Judge

Sixth District Magistrate Judge Rick Carnaroli has been appointed as the newest Pocatello-based District Judge.

Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter picked Carnaroli from among four nominees to succeed Judge David Nye, who was recently appointed to the federal bench.

Carnaroli is a Connecticut native who received his bachelor’s degree from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, and his law degree from the Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Oregon. He was in private practice with the Pocatello law firm Service Gasser & Kerl for nine years and worked as a city attorney for Pocatello for almost ten years before being appointed a magistrate judge in October 2004.

“Judge Carnaroli has the sound judicial temperament, the diversity of legal experience and the strong leadership skills that will serve him well as a district judge,” Governor Otter said. “He has big shoes to fill with the departure of Judge Nye, but I’m confident in his commitment to tackling this new opportunity.”

“I am truly humbled and blessed by the opportunity Governor Otter has given me with this appointment to serve our community as a district judge,” Carnaroli said. “I have been proud and honored to serve as one of Idaho’s outstanding group of magistrate judges for the past 13 years and hope to take the experience and judicial education I’ve received from the Idaho Supreme Court and my peers and hit the ground running to meet the challenges of this new opportunity to serve our citizens.”

Carnaroli was a standout college baseball player. He is former president of the Idaho State Bar Association, president of the Idaho Magistrate Judges Association, a member of the Idaho Pro Bono Commission, and the Idaho Supreme Court’s Legislative Review Committee.

Carnaroli and his wife Drema have four adult children.