These two attorneys were selected to be new Bonneville County Magistrate Judges
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The following is a news release from the Seventh Judicial District.
IDAHO FALLS — The Seventh Judicial District Magistrate Commission has selected John C. Dewey as a new Bonneville County Magistrate Judge. Dewey will replace the position being vacated by the Honorable Steven A. Gardner who will retire on Dec. 31.
Dewey received his Bachelor’s Degree from Idaho State University, his Juris Doctorate degree from Baylor University and an LLM in taxation from the University of Florida.
He currently serves as the City of Idaho Falls Prosecutor. He was the Chief Deputy Prosecutor for Bonneville County prior to that. He also worked as Legal Counsel for Bingham County for approximately two years and prior to that served as a Deputy or Chief Deputy Prosecutor for Bonneville County for more than eight years.
Dewey also was a Law Clerk/Staff Attorney for the Honorable Jonathan Brody, District Judge, in the Fifth Judicial District of the State of Idaho. Dewey has served as a Board Member for Rise Up Teen and Child Crisis Center of East Idaho.
The Magistrate Commission also selected Tawyna Rawlings as a new Bonneville County Magistrate Judge. Rawlings will replace the position vacated by the Honorable Michelle R. Mallard who left office on Nov. 30.
Rawlings received her Juris Doctorate Degree from University of Utah and her Bachelor’s Degree from Utah State University. Since 2021, Rawlings has served as the Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Fremont County. Prior to that she was serving as the Senior Deputy Public Defender for Bannock County, where she worked for more than 15 years.
Rawlings is a Member of the Idaho Women Lawyer’s Association.
The Magistrate Commission Chairman, Administrative District Judge Dane Watkins, Jr., announced the appointment and indicated the commission had interviewed highly qualified candidates (5 seeking appointment for Judge Gardner’s position and 6 seeking appointment for Judge Mallard’s position). Judge Watkins and the Magistrate Commission are confident that the people of Bonneville County and the Seventh Judicial District will be well served by the appointees.
Judge Watkins further complimented the Magistrate Commission for its thorough examination of the candidates and expressed the Judiciary’s appreciation for the contribution made by each member.
Upon appointment, magistrates serve an 18-month probationary period, after which, they stand for retention election in the county in which they are seated, and if retained, serve a term of four years.