Matthew Rakes at a glance
- Current role
- Magistrate Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Idaho · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Matthew Rakes
Magistrate Judge · Idaho Magistrate Division, Judicial District 1
Matthew Rakes — Idaho Magistrate Division, Judicial District 1
Biography
Professional career
- Magistrate judge, First Judicial District, Kootenai County; investiture July 1, 2026; succeeds James Combo, who retired June 30, 2026
- Selected as a magistrate judge for Kootenai County, Idaho, and his investiture ceremony took place on July 1, 2026, with his official start date set for July 6, 2026
- Matthew A. Rakes is a longtime Coeur d’Alene resident and attorney now serving as a magistrate judge in Idaho’s First Judicial District, appointed in July 2026 to fill the vacancy left by Judge James Combo
- In addition to his magistrate role, a September 2026 court order appointed him pro tem district judge for the Kootenai County DUI Court, presiding over related cases during his tenure
- Appointed pro tem district judge for Kootenai County DUI Court by administrative order B26-KOO.4, Sept
Education
- in Psychology — University of Idaho — B.S. (2006)
- Gonzaga University School of Law — J.D.
Additional information
- 11, 2026, nunc pro tunc to July 6, 2026
- Matthew Rakes was selected for the First Judicial District vacancy left by James Combo; his investiture was scheduled for July 1, 2026.
- He opened a Spokane Valley practice in 2014 handling family law, landlord-tenant matters, and estate planning, then moved his practice to Idaho in 2016, with a focus on family law and mediation.
- Commission notice gives the name Matthew Aaron Rakes.
- Opened his own law office in Spokane Valley
- Rakes’ appointment was announced in multiple local and legal news outlets, highlighting his long-standing community ties and legal expertise.
- As a magistrate judge, Rakes presides over cases in the First Judicial District, including family law, civil matters, and other cases within his jurisdiction.
- He graduated from the University of Idaho in psychology and attended Gonzaga University School of Law.
- He succeeds the Honorable James Combo, who retired.
- His DUI Court appointment ensures he also handles certain traffic and administrative cases
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Idaho Rules for Electronic Filing and Service, Rule 6
Idaho Magistrate Division, Judicial District 1
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-27Sources
current_membership
Current Membership source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View current_membership ↗