{{short description|U.S. state government branch}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} The '''Nevada Judiciary''' is the judicial branch of the Government of Nevada, which is responsible for applying the Constitution and law of Nevada. It consists of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, district courts, justice courts, and municipal courts. The Supreme Court oversees the administration of the judiciary.

==Courts== [[File:Supreme Court of Nevada in Carson City.jpg|thumb|The Supreme Court building in Carson City, which also houses the Court of Appeals]]

===Supreme Court=== {{main|Supreme Court of Nevada}}

The Supreme Court of Nevada is the state supreme court, the state's highest appellate court. The Supreme Court consists of seven justices; the longest-serving member is the Chief Justice, and the rest are associate justices.<ref name=nvconstart6sec3>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Const/NVConst.html#Art6Sec3 Nev. Const. art. 6, § 3]</ref><ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-002.html#NRS002Sec010 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 2.010]</ref> Each justice is elected statewide for a six-year term.<ref name=nvconstart6sec3 />

The six associate justices are divided into two panels of three, with one based in Carson City and the other in Las Vegas.<ref>{{cite web|title=Overview of the Appellate Courts|publisher=Nevada Judiciary|url=https://nvcourts.gov/Supreme/Court_Information/Overview_of_the_Supreme_Court_and_Court_of_Appeals/|accessdate=2018-09-17}}</ref> Most cases before the Court are heard and decided by one of the panels; cases with significant precedential or public policy implications are heard ''en banc'' by all seven justices.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Supreme Court's Decision-Making Process|author=Debbie Leonard|newspaper=The Writ|publisher=Washoe County Bar Association|date=June 2017|url=https://www.mcdonaldcarano.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/The-Supreme-Courts-Decision-Making-Process.pdf|accessdate=2018-09-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Political History of Nevada|page=242|author=Nevada Secretary of State & Nevada Legislative Council Bureau|contribution=The Nevada Judiciary|contributor=Robin Sweet|url=https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Research/Publications/PHoN/|chapter-url=https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Research/Publications/PHoN/Ch06.pdf|accessdate=2018-09-17}}</ref>

===Court of Appeals=== {{main|Nevada Court of Appeals}}

The Court of Appeals is the state's intermediate appellate court. It consists of a Chief Judge and two associate judges.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-002A.html#NRS002ASec010 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 2A.010]</ref> Each judge is elected statewide for a six-year term.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-002A.html#NRS002ASec030 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 2A.030]</ref> The Court of Appeals follows a deflective, or "push-down", model, in which cases are assigned to it by the Supreme Court, rather than being received directly on appeal from the lower courts.<ref>{{cite news|title=New court in Nevada has some appeal|newspaper=Vegas Inc.|author=David Davis|date=February 8, 2016|url=https://vegasinc.lasvegassun.com/business/2016/feb/08/new-court-in-nevada-has-some-appeal/|accessdate=2018-09-11}}</ref>

thumb|The Clark County Regional Justice Center, which is shared by the district, justice, and municipal courts serving Las Vegas

===District courts=== {{main|Nevada District Courts}}

The district courts are Nevada's trial courts of general jurisdiction; they also serve as the appellate court for cases decided in the justice courts and municipal courts.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Const/NVConst.html#Art6Sec6 Nev. Const. art. 6, § 6]</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Nevada State Constitution|author=Michael W. Bowers|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2014|page=109|isbn=978-0-19-989254-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LXfqAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA109}}</ref> The state is divided into eleven judicial districts, each of which comprises one to three of Nevada's sixteen counties and one independent city.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-003.html#NRS003Sec010 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 3.010]</ref> Each district has a court, with a number of judges ranging from 1 to 52.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-003.html#NRS003Sec011 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 3.010 to 3.0197]</ref> Each judge is elected by a district-wide vote for a six-year term.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Const/NVConst.html#Art6Sec5 Nev. Const. art. 6, § 5]</ref>

===Justice courts=== Each of Nevada's counties and its independent city are divided into one or more townships,<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-257.html#NRS257Sec010 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 257.010]</ref><ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/CityCharters/CtyCCCC.html#CCCarson4_010 Carson City Charter § 4.010]</ref> and each township has a justice court.<ref name=nrs4020>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-004.html#NRS004Sec020 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 4.020]</ref> The justice courts are courts of limited jurisdiction that hear only minor cases; in general, they hear misdemeanor cases (including traffic tickets),{{efn|name=misdemeanors}} and civil cases involving $15,000 or less (including evictions and small claims cases).<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-004.html#NRS004Sec370 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 4.370]</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Nevada State Constitution|author=Michael W. Bowers|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2014|page=104|isbn=978-0-19-989254-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LXfqAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA104}}</ref> They may also hold probable cause hearings for felony and gross misdemeanor cases.<ref>{{cite court|litigants=Grace (Lecory) v. Dist. Ct. (State)|vol=132|reporter=Nev. Adv. Op.|opinion=51|url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/nv-supreme-court/1743336.html|accessdate=2018-09-13}}</ref>

There are 40 justice courts in the state.<ref>{{cite web|title=Justice Courts|publisher=Nevada Judiciary|url=https://nvcourts.gov/Templates/Subpage_MetaData.aspx?id=34618|accessdate=2018-09-11}}</ref> Each justice court consists of a number of justices of the peace, as determined by a formula based on the township's population.<ref name=nrs4020 /> Each justice of the peace is elected to a six-year term by voters in the township.<ref name=nrs4020 />

===Municipal courts=== Each incorporated city in Nevada has a municipal court.<ref name=nrs5010>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-005.html#NRS005Sec010 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 5.010]</ref> Like the justice courts, the municipal courts have limited jurisdiction; in general, they hear cases involving civil and misdemeanor violations of city ordinances,{{efn|name=misdemeanors}} nuisance abatement cases, and cases involving $2,500 or less where the city is the plaintiff.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-005.html#NRS005Sec050 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 5.050]</ref> The municipal court is presided over by a municipal judge<ref name=nrs5010 /> (or, as provided by some city charters, multiple judges<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/CityCharters/CtyLasVegasCC.html#CCLasVegas4_010 Las Vegas City Charter § 4.010], [https://www.leg.state.nv.us/CityCharters/CtyRCC.html#CCReno1_060 Reno City Charter § 1.060]</ref>). Judges may be either elected by the city's voters, or appointed by the mayor with consent of the city council, as determined by city ordinance.<ref name=nrs5020>Nev. Rev. Stat. §§ [https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-005.html#NRS005Sec020 5.020], [https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-266.html#NRS266Sec405 266.405]</ref> The term of elected judges is set by the city charter or ordinances.<ref name=nrs5020 /> In some cities, instead of electing or appointing a judge, the applicable justice of the peace serves ''ex officio'' as the municipal judge.<ref name=nrs5020 />

==Administration== The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is the administrative head of the judiciary.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Const/NVConst.html#Art6Sec19 Nev. Const. art. 6, § 19]</ref> The Supreme Court has rulemaking authority over the judicial system, under which it establishes rules for the administration of courts, rules of civil procedure, and rules of conduct for judges and attorneys.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-002.html#NRS002Sec120 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 2.120]</ref><ref>{{cite report|title=Annual Report of the Nevada Judiciary|publisher=Supreme Court of Nevada|year=2017|page=29|url=https://nvcourts.gov/Supreme/Reports/Annual_Reports/2017_Annual_Report_of_the_Nevada_Judiciary/2017_Annual_Report/|format=PDF|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref> It also appoints a Court Administrator to manage the Administrative Office of the Courts, which provides support services for all of the courts in the state.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-001.html#NRS001Sec320 Nev. Rev. Stat. §§ 1.320 to 1.370]</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Administrative Office of the Courts|publisher=Nevada Judiciary|url=https://nvcourts.gov/AOC/}}</ref>

The Judicial Council of the State of Nevada exists to assist the Supreme Court in making policy.<ref>{{cite report|title=Annual Report of the Nevada Judiciary|publisher=Supreme Court of Nevada|year=2017|page=14|url=https://nvcourts.gov/Supreme/Reports/Annual_Reports/2017_Annual_Report_of_the_Nevada_Judiciary/2017_Annual_Report/|format=PDF|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Judicial Council Overview|publisher=Nevada Judiciary|url=https://nvcourts.gov/AOC/Administration/Judicial_Council/Overview/|accessdate=2018-09-18}}</ref> It consists of judges and court administrators from around the state.<ref name=scr9>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/CourtRules/SCR.html#SCRRule9 Nevada Supreme Court Rule 9]</ref> They are charged with researching issues and making recommendations for rules, policies, and proposed legislation.<ref name=scr9 /> The Council includes five regional councils, which are responsible for studying local issues and coordinating the implementation of judiciary policies.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/CourtRules/SCR.html#SCRRule8 Nevada Supreme Court Rule 8]</ref>

The Supreme Court oversees the State Bar of Nevada, which licenses and regulates attorneys in the state.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-007.html#NRS007Sec275 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 7.275]</ref>

==Officers== ===Judicial officers=== Judicial officers of all the state's courts are subject to oversight by the Commission on Judicial Discipline.<ref name=nvconstart6sec21>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Const/NVConst.html#Art6Sec21 Nev. Const. art. 6, § 21]</ref> The Commission consists of members appointed by the Supreme Court, the Governor, and the Governors of the State Bar.<ref name=nvconstart6sec21 /> The commission can impose discipline up to and including removal from office, on grounds of willful misconduct, failure to perform the duties of the office, or habitual substance abuse.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-001.html#NRS001Sec4653 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 1.4653]</ref> Judges and justices (except for justices of the peace) are also subject to impeachment by the Nevada Legislature.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Const/NVConst.html#Art7Sec2 Nev. Const. art. 7, § 2]</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Nevada Politics & Government: Conservatism in an Open Society|author=Don W. Driggs|publisher=University of Nebraska Press|year=1996|pages=[https://archive.org/details/nevadapoliticsgo00drig_0/page/126 126]-127|isbn=9780803266049|url=https://archive.org/details/nevadapoliticsgo00drig_0|url-access=registration}}</ref> Unlike other state officers, they cannot be recalled.<ref>{{cite news|title=Elected judges cannot be recalled, Nevada high court rules|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|author=David Ferrara|date=April 13, 2017|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/north-las-vegas/elected-judges-cannot-be-recalled-nevada-high-court-rules/|accessdate=2018-09-16}}</ref>

If a seat becomes vacant on the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, or District Courts in the middle of a term, the Governor appoints a replacement.<ref name=nvconstart6sec20>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Const/NVConst.html#Art6Sec20 Nev. Const. art. 6 § 20]</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Commission on Judicial Selection: Facts and FAQs|publisher=Administrative Office of the Courts|url=https://nvcourts.gov/AOC/Committees_and_Commissions/Judicial_Selection/Facts_and_FAQs/|accessdate=2018-09-18}}</ref> The Governor must choose from three nominees put forth by the Commission on Judicial Selection, which consists of a Supreme Court justice and members appointed by the Governor and the Governors of the State Bar.<ref name=nvconstart6sec20 /> The replacement serves until the next general election.<ref name=nvconstart6sec20 /> In case of a vacancy in a justice court, the county commissioners may either appoint a replacement or call a special election.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-004.html#NRS004Sec150 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 4.150]</ref> Vacancies in municipal courts are handled according to city law.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-266.html#NRS266Sec390 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 266.390]</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Nevada Politics & Government: Conservatism in an Open Society|author=Don W. Driggs|publisher=University of Nebraska Press|year=1996|page=[https://archive.org/details/nevadapoliticsgo00drig_0/page/126 126]|isbn=9780803266049|url=https://archive.org/details/nevadapoliticsgo00drig_0|url-access=registration}}</ref>

State law allows various types of subordinate judicial officers to be appointed on a temporary or limited-scope basis, including special masters,<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/CourtRules/NRCP.html#NRCPRule53 Nev. R. Civ. P. 53]</ref> referees,<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-004.html#NRS004Sec355 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 4.355]</ref> hearing commissioners,<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/CityCharters/CtyLasVegasCC.html#CCLasVegas4_040 Las Vegas City Charter § 4.040]</ref> senior judges,<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-005.html#NRS005Sec024 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 5.024]</ref> and judges ''pro tem''.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-005.html#NRS005Sec023 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 5.023]</ref>

===Prosecutors=== Each county has an elected district attorney, who serves as the prosecutor of criminal cases in the county.<ref>Nev. Rev. Stat. §§ [https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-252.html#NRS252Sec020 252.020], [https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-252.html#NRS252Sec080 252.080]</ref> The Nevada Attorney General has supervisory power over the district attorneys, but this power is rarely exercised.<ref name=nrs228120>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-228.html#NRS228Sec120 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 228.120]</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Sagebrush State: Nevada's History, Government, and Politics|author=Michael Wayne Bowers|publisher=University of Nevada Press|year=2006|page=89|isbn=9780874176827|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JHjKxTAwdGIC&pg=PA89}}</ref> The Attorney General's office also handles prosecutions in areas such as insurance fraud and elder exploitation, and can prosecute other state crimes as needed.<ref name=nrs228120 /><ref>{{cite web|title=Attorney General's Office Overview Presentation|author=Brett Kandt|publisher=Nevada Legislature|date=February 10, 2017|url=https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/79th2017/Exhibits/Assembly/JUD/AJUD64C.pdf|accessdate=2018-09-17}}</ref> Within incorporated cities, the city attorney may be responsible for prosecuting misdemeanors.<ref>{{cite web|title=City Attorney|publisher=Boulder City|url=https://www.bcnv.org/157/City-Attorney|accessdate=2018-09-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=City Attorney's Office|publisher=City of North Las Vegas|url=http://www.cityofnorthlasvegas.com/departments/cityattorney/index.php|accessdate=2018-09-17}}</ref>

===Public defenders=== Each county and city is required to ensure the right to counsel by providing an attorney for any indigent criminal defendant who is facing a possible jail sentence.<ref name=righttocounsel>{{cite report|title=The Right to Counsel in Rural Nevada: Evaluation of Indigent Defense Services|author=Sixth Amendment Center|date=September 2018|pages=44–47|url=https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/InterimCommittee/REL/Document/13138|accessdate=2018-09-17}}</ref> Most counties have met this requirement by establishing a public defender office, which either employs attorneys or contracts with private attorneys.<ref name=righttocounsel /> The State Public Defender's Office, a unit of the Department of Health and Human Services, provides indigent defense for those counties that do not have their own public defender office.<ref name=righttocounsel /><ref>{{cite web|title=Public Defender's Office|publisher=Nevada Department of Health and Human Services|url=http://dhhs.nv.gov/Resources/PD/Public_Defender/|accessdate=2018-09-17}}</ref> As of 2018, only Carson City and Storey County use the State Public Defender.<ref name=righttocounsel /> In municipal courts, cities either rely on the county's public defender office or contract with private defense attorneys.<ref>{{cite report|title=The Right to Counsel in Rural Nevada: Evaluation of Indigent Defense Services|author=Sixth Amendment Center|date=September 2018|pages=98–107|url=https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/InterimCommittee/REL/Document/13138|accessdate=2018-09-17}}</ref>

===Peace officers=== The county sheriff is responsible for maintaining order in the district court, as well as serving and executing process and writs from the district and justice courts.<ref>Nev. Rev. Stat. §§ [https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-003.html#NRS003Sec310 3.310], [https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-248.html#NRS248Sec090 248.090 to 248.130]</ref> District judges and justices of the peace may also appoint bailiffs or deputy marshals to ensure courtroom security.<ref>Nev. Rev. Stat. §§ [https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-003.html#NRS003Sec310 3.310], [https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-004.html#NRS004Sec353 4.353]</ref> Some municipal courts also employ bailiffs or marshals.<ref>{{cite news|title=North Las Vegas bailiff program fails to produce projected savings|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|author=Bethany Barnes|date=January 18, 2016|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/north-las-vegas-bailiff-program-fails-to-produce-projected-savings/|accessdate=2018-09-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Marshal Division|publisher=City of Reno|url=https://www.reno.gov/government/municipal-court/marshal-division|accessdate=2018-09-18}}</ref>

The constable is a township officer whose duties relate mainly to the justice court, including service of summonses and subpoenas, enforcement of evictions, and summoning of juries.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-258.html#NRS258Sec125 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 258.125]</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Constables are both obscure and controversial|newspaper=KLAS-TV|author=Steve Kanigher|date=April 26, 2012|url=https://www.lasvegasnow.com/news/constables-are-both-obscure-and-controversial/75415043|accessdate=2018-09-18|archive-date=2018-06-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616101704/http://www.lasvegasnow.com/news/constables-are-both-obscure-and-controversial/75415043|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ruling: Only Las Vegas constables can work in Las Vegas|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|author=Kristi Jourdan|date=July 30, 2012|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/courts/ruling-only-las-vegas-constables-can-work-in-las-vegas/|accessdate=2018-09-18}}</ref> The constable is generally elected by township voters to a four-year term, but the county commissioners may instead decide that the county sheriff shall serve ''ex officio'' as the constable, or may abolish the office of constable entirely.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-258.html#NRS258Sec010 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 258.010]</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Clark County Commission may consider whether to eliminate constable offices|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=April 10, 2018|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-clark-county-commission-may-consider-whether-to-eliminate-constable-offices/|accessdate=2018-09-18}}</ref>

==Caseload== In fiscal year 2017, a total of 807,576 cases were filed in Nevada's lower courts, broken down as follows:<ref>{{cite report|title=Annual Report of the Nevada Judiciary|publisher=Supreme Court of Nevada|year=2017|page=30|url=https://nvcourts.gov/Supreme/Reports/Annual_Reports/2017_Annual_Report_of_the_Nevada_Judiciary/2017_Annual_Report/|format=PDF|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;" |- ! rowspan=2 | Court<br>Type ! colspan=5 | Case Type ! rowspan=2 | Total |- ! Criminal<br>{{small|(non-traffic)}} ! Civil ! Family ! Juvenile ! Traffic &<br>Parking |- ! District | 18,011 | 28,061 | 85,749 | 10,078 | 2,315 | ''144,214'' |- ! Justice | 80,454 | 113,736 | | | 297,171 | ''491,361'' |- ! Municipal | 46,249 | 3,859 | | | 121,893 | ''172,001'' |- ! Total | ''144,714'' | ''145,656'' | ''85,749'' | ''10,078'' | ''421,379'' | ''807,576'' |}

In the same period, 2,785 cases were filed with the Supreme Court, and 971 were assigned to the Court of Appeals.<ref>{{cite report|title=Annual Report of the Nevada Judiciary|publisher=Supreme Court of Nevada|year=2017|page=31|url=https://nvcourts.gov/Supreme/Reports/Annual_Reports/2017_Annual_Report_of_the_Nevada_Judiciary/2017_Annual_Report/|format=PDF|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref>

==Notes== {{notelist|refs= {{efn|name=misdemeanors|In some cities, city law incorporates the state's criminal law.<ref>[https://www.leg.state.nv.us/CityCharters/CtyLasVegasCC.html#CCLasVegas2_160 Las Vegas City Charter § 2.160], [http://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/codebook/index.php?book_id=410 Yerington City Code § 5-2-1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613205350/http://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/codebook/index.php?book_id=410 |date=2016-06-13 }}</ref> As a result, misdemeanors committed within the city may be tried in municipal court rather than justice court.<ref>{{cite web|title=Municipal Court Judges|publisher=City of Las Vegas|url=https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Government/Municipal-Court/Judges|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Preparing for Court: Jurisdiction|publisher=City of Yerington|url=http://www.yerington.net/index.aspx?NID=578|accessdate=2018-09-14|archive-date=2016-12-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161219171424/http://yerington.net/index.aspx?nid=578|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{official website|https://nvcourts.gov/|Nevada Judiciary}}

{{Judiciaries of the United States}}

Category:Nevada state courts Nevada