Meet Judge Evans

Second District Judge Candidate

Michelle Evans

Judge Michelle M. Evans is a lifelong Idahoan who graduated from Bonners Ferry High School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology (along with three minors in Sociology, Social Work and Music) from the University of Idaho (Go Vandals!). She received her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Idaho College of Law and was admitted to practice by the Idaho State Bar that same year. After law school, Judge Evans worked for Lewis County as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for approximately one year, handling all criminal prosecutions and select civil matters for the county while the elected prosecutor was on limited hours for medical reasons. In 1995, Judge Evans joined the Latah County Prosecutor’s Office working for William W. (Bill) Thompson, Jr. During her nineteen-year tenure in Latah County, Judge Evans displayed her extensive experience and responsibility in prosecution of felonies, misdemeanors and juvenile criminal cases and civil matters. The last nine years in Latah County Judge Evans was the Senior Deputy. In recognition for her exceptional work and commitment, she was recognized as Prosecutor of the Year by the Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association in 2008.

In 2014, Judge Evans was selected by the Second District Magistrates Commission to be the next Magistrate Judge for Nez Perce County, replacing Judge Jay Gaskill who was appointed as District Judge. She has served on the bench for nearly eight years, having been retained by the voters in the 2016 and 2020 elections. As a Magistrate Judge Evans handles a wide variety of criminal justice and civil matters.

For more information and history on the role of Magistrate Judges in Idaho, please go to the Idaho Magistrate Judges Association website.

Judge Evans presides over the Nez Perce County Mental Health Court, which is a treatment court for individuals charged with a crime who have mental health and substance use disorders. The Mental Health Court treatment team meets weekly to review each participant’s progress, and for Judge Evans to talk to each participant about their program. Judge Evans has demonstrated her commitment to improving mental and behavioral health issues within Idaho’s communities as an Advisory Board Member and co-chair of the Commitments Workgroup of the Idaho Behavioral Health Council, a collaborative effort involving a cross-section of Idaho’s three branches of government and community partners. Judge Evans also serves on the Idaho Supreme Court’s Domestic Violence Advisory Team (representing the Second District) and was a previous member of the Misdemeanor Sentencing Committee as well as the Child Protection Advisory Team.

Judge Evans and her family relocated to Lewiston from Moscow when she took the bench in 2014. Her husband of 32 years, Terry Evans, commutes to Moscow and works at the University of Idaho College of Science (and is an awesome audio engineer in his spare time!). Their oldest son (23) graduated from Moscow High School and the University of Idaho and is now enjoying his career in Virtual Technology and Design in Connecticut. Their youngest son (16) is attending Lewiston High School (Go Bengals!). The family enjoys boating, camping (especially in the Sawtooths), hanging out with their two dogs, attending concerts and shows, and, of course, tailgating with friends at Vandal football games.

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