New magistrate judges named
Bonners Ferry Herald | UPDATED 13 hours, 53 minutes AGO
Two new magistrate judges will join the First Judicial District in July.
Matthew Rakes will fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge James Combo. His investiture is set for July 1.
Chris Schwartz will fill the vacancy left by Judge Robert Caldwell, who died in April. His investiture is set for July 10.
Rakes has lived in the Coeur d’Alene area for more than 30 years. He graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in psychology and attended Gonzaga University School of Law.
In 2014, Rakes opened his own law office in Spokane Valley, with a focus on family law, landlord-tenant matters and estate planning. He moved his practice to Idaho in 2016, focusing on family law and mediation services.
“Matt looks forward to serving the citizens of Kootenai County in this new role,” a news release said.
Schwartz is a lifelong Kootenai County resident. He earned a degree in political science from the University of Idaho, as well as a law degree. He worked as a public defender in Kootenai County for many years before starting his own practice in 2019.