Justice System: Nevada
The Nevada Judiciary has the responsibility to provide impartial, efficient, and accessible dispute resolution in legal matters. Most of the public is familiar with, or has contact with, the Municipal and Justice Courts as these are the courts that handle traffic and parking citations and lesser civil filings. Both of these courts have limited jurisdictions.
The District Courts have general jurisdiction over all legal disputes. These are the courts where criminal, civil, family, and juvenile matters are generally resolved through arbitration, mediation, and bench or jury trials. The Supreme Court is the state's highest court and its primary responsibility is to review and rule on appeals from District Court cases. (About the Nevada Judiciary)
Overview of NV Court System
• Municipal Courts
• Justice Courts
• District Court
• Supreme Court
Overview of Attorney General
Catherine Cortez Masto, Attorney General (Democrat)
• Elected in 2006.
• Term expires in 2010.
Contingency Fees and the Attorney General
The Nevada attorney general is authorized to hire special counsel and to fix the fee paid to such counsel with the approval of that state’s Board of Examiners. However, compensation must be paid out of state funds, implying that contingency fees are not an option for the attorney general’s hires.
(Taken from Bounty Hunters On The Prowl: The Troubling Alliance Of State
Attorneys General and Plaintiffs’ Lawyers; by John Beisner, Jessica Davidson Miller, and Terrell McSweeny; May 26, 2005)
Supreme Court Justice System
Only three justices sat on the Nevada Supreme Court bench from 1864 to 1967. In 1967 the legislature used its constitutional authority to increase the size of the court to five. In 1997, the number was increased to seven justices. Each justice is elected to a six-year term, with the exception of the two new justices elected in 1998, who held two-year terms until they were reelected in the 2000 election; subsequent terms are for six years. The Governor fills mid-term vacancies by appointment. The most senior justice in commission becomes chief justice and serves for two years. If two justices are eligible, the chief justice is chosen by lot.
Current Judges
Chief Justice Mark Gibbons
• Elected to the Supreme Court in 2002.
• Term expires in 2008.
Justice A. William Maupin
• Elected to the Supreme Court in 1996.
• Reelected in 2002.
• Term expires in 2008.
Justice Michael A. Cherry
• Elected to the Supreme Court in 2006.
• Term expires in 2012.
Justice Michael Douglas
• Appointed to the Supreme Court in 2004.
• Elected in 2006.
• Term expires in 2012.
Justice James W. Hardesty
• Elected to the Supreme Court in 2004.
• Term expires in 2010.
Justice Ron D. Parraguirre
• Elected to the Supreme Court in 2004.
• Term expires in 2010.
Justice Nancy M. Saitta
• Elected to the Supreme Court in 2006.
• Term expires in 2012.
Judicial Selection Committee
When a midterm vacancy occurs on the Supreme Court or the district court, the governor appoints a judge from a list of three nominees submitted by the commission on judicial selection. There is a permanent commission to identify candidates to fill Supreme Court vacancies. The permanent commission is composed of the chief justice or a designated associate justice, three lawyers appointed by the board of governors of the State Bar of Nevada, and three non-lawyers appointed by the governor. Of the members appointed by the state bar and by the governor, none may reside in the same county and no more than two may be members of the same political party. Members serve four-year terms.
A temporary commission is assembled to recommend candidates for district court vacancies. The temporary commission consists of the members of the permanent commission; a lawyer resident of the judicial district in which the vacancy occurs, appointed by the board of governors of the state bar; and a non-lawyer resident of that judicial district, appointed by the governor.
For more information, see Judicial Merit Selection: Current Status.
