U.S. Magistrate Judge Ron Bush will become the chief magistrate judge for the District of Idaho on Oct. 1, the courts announced today, taking over from current Chief Magistrate Judge Candy Dale, who has served as chief since 2008. The chief position is a seven-year, rotating term. Both Dale and Bush will continue to have various administrative responsibilities in addition to their court caseloads.

“Judge Dale has played a central and critical role in the administration of the District’s business over the last 7 years,” said Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill. “Both she and Judge Bush have been instrumental in promoting and supporting a number of the District’s most important and innovative programs.  That joint commitment of our two magistrate Judges, coupled with Judge Bush’s considerable administrative skills, ensures that the affairs of the District of Idaho will be in good hands over the upcoming 7 years.”

Federal magistrate judges are selected through a merit review process and appointed by the district judges.

Bush, an Idaho Falls, native, was first named a federal magistrate judge in 2008; previously, he was an Idaho 6^th District judge for five years. Prior to that, he practiced law for 20 years in Pocatello and Boise. He’s a graduate of the University of Idaho and George Washington University Law School.