KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho — Idaho Signal received a news tip from a citizen expressing grave concern about the upcoming May 19 election and the driving history of Lisa M. Chesebro, who announced her candidacy for district judge in Idaho’s First Judicial District on March 7, 2026. Chesebro faces current Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney, Benjamin Allen, in next month’s election. Public court records show Chesebro was arrested in Kootenai County in 2020 under case number CR-28-20-12904 on charges related to driving under the influence.
She pleaded guilty to the DUI. In a common discretionary action in Idaho for eligible first-time offenders under Idaho Code § 19-2601, the judge then granted a withheld judgment. This allowed her to avoid a formal conviction at sentencing. She was placed on probation with conditions typical for DUI cases. After successful completion of probation, the case was ultimately dismissed.
Then, in 2021, after being allowed back on the road, she was cited in Shoshone County under case number CR-40-21-0977 for exceeding the speed limit. The back-to-back incidents are especially shocking and illustrate a pattern of poor judgment.
Driving under the influence is a dangerous, illegal act that puts innocent people and entire communities at risk. The fact that Chesebro was cited again for speeding so soon after her DUI arrest, once she had regained driving privileges, raises serious questions about accountability and decision-making. Even after facing the legal consequences of impaired driving, she chose to exceed the speed limit, once more putting her community at risk. Chesebro currently serves as Trial Court Administrator for the First Judicial District, a position that involves close work with judges and court operations.
Her campaign announcement highlighted nearly two decades of experience as a prosecutor and defense attorney, her University of Idaho College of Law degree, and her belief that “courts must remain accessible, fair, and grounded in the communities they serve.” Yet this driving record stands in sharp contrast to the high standards of personal responsibility expected of a district judge – someone who would preside over DUI and traffic cases and decide the consequences for others charged with similar offenses.
In an exclusive interview published April 21, 2026 with Kootenai Journal, Lisa Chesebro addressed the DUI charges.
In 2020, during one of the hardest years of my life, I made a serious mistake and was charged with DUI in Kootenai County. That same year, my father was in hospice and passed away, and I was dealing with grief and family hardship. I ‘m not sharing this to make excuses. I’m sharing it because accountability matters. I took responsibility, completed everything required by the court, and received a withheld judgment.
That experience taught me a lot about personal responsibility, humility, and how quickly life can test you. None of us are defined only by our worst moment. We are defined by how we respond, what we learn, and how we move forward. I’ve worked hard to grow from that chapter, and I remain committed to living with honesty, responsibility, and compassion.
Voters in judicial elections often have little information beyond campaign statements on which to base their decisions. Professional qualifications are usually emphasized, while personal history that reflects on character and judgment is rarely discussed. It is with meaningful intention and deep respect for the election process that Idaho Signal shares these facts from public court records. The May 19 primary gives voters in the First Judicial District the chance to consider all available information when choosing who will serve on the bench. This report is based solely on the public case files identified in the tip.