Ada County’s 4th Judicial District will see a November runoff election after three candidates competed in this month’s primary for an open district court seat — and no single contender secured a majority of the votes cast. Jeffrey Street Jr. and Greg Woodard will face each other in the general election after both outpaced a third candidate, David J. Morse, according to unofficial results.
Why No Candidate Won Outright
The three-way contest emerged following the decision by Judge Lynn Norton — first elected in 2018 — not to seek another term. The seat drew an unusually competitive field: all 12 other 4th Judicial District races on the same ballot were decided with a single uncontested candidate. The 4th Judicial District covers Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley counties.
Under Idaho law, a candidate for the Idaho Supreme Court or a district court seat must earn an outright majority to win during the primary. When no one clears that threshold, the top two vote-getters advance to a runoff held during the general election. If either of the two leading candidates withdraws before November, the third-place finisher would take that spot on the ballot.
Unofficial results showed Street earning approximately 41.5 percent of the vote, or roughly 26,800 votes. Woodard followed with about 30.4 percent, totaling around 19,600 votes. Morse received approximately 28.1 percent, or about 18,100 votes — a relatively close spread that underscored the competitive nature of the race.
District judge races in Idaho are nonpartisan, meaning candidates do not run under a party affiliation. All seats are contested in May and the winning candidate serves a four-year term. This structure differs from most state and legislative races, which use a primary-to-general model based on party nomination.
Backgrounds of the Two Finalists
Street brings a background that spans labor relations and civil litigation. Early in his legal career, he worked with BNSF Railway, handling labor disputes and collective bargaining negotiations involving the company’s union workforce. He began private practice in Boise in 2019 as an associate attorney at Gjording Fouser PLLC, where he represented healthcare facilities, insurance companies, and medical professionals in malpractice and business litigation. More recently, he has worked on personal injury and wrongful death matters with both Gjording Fouser and Litster Frost Injury Lawyers.
Woodard brings more than two decades of legal experience across both private and public sectors. His private practice history includes work at a large Los Angeles-based firm focused on land use litigation, followed by the formation of a Boise-area firm that handled contract, employment, and real estate disputes. He later opened a solo practice before transitioning to public service in 2023, when he joined the Idaho Attorney General’s Office as a deputy attorney general. In that role, he has represented the state in matters related to election law, capital punishment, and government spending.
For Ada County residents following judicial appointment and election issues, this race is one to watch. Earlier this year, questions arose about the qualifications of candidates seeking Ada County judgeships — a topic covered in depth in a prior report examining whether one candidate may have been ineligible to run.
Impact on Ada County Residents
District court judges in Ada County preside over a wide range of cases — from criminal trials and civil disputes to family law matters and appeals from magistrate courts. The seat Norton is vacating will affect the caseload and composition of the bench serving the Treasure Valley’s largest population center. With Boise and Meridian continuing to grow rapidly, Ada County’s courts handle an increasing volume of litigation each year.
The Idaho judiciary has been the subject of several high-profile cases in recent years. A pending case brought against the Boise diocese reached the Idaho Supreme Court, as covered in an earlier report on clergy abuse allegations and the court’s role in that dispute.
What Comes Next
Street and Woodard will both appear on the November general election ballot, where Ada County voters will make the final decision on who fills the district court vacancy. Because judicial races are nonpartisan, no party primary result determines the outcome — all registered voters in the district are eligible to cast a ballot regardless of party affiliation.
Voters interested in learning more about the candidates can review publicly available campaign information as the November contest approaches. The election is expected to draw broader participation given its placement on the general election ballot alongside other statewide and local races.