Judge Kimberly “Kim” Wanker temporarily steps away from bench for cancer treatment. [PVTimes]
Clark County attorney, Payal Patel, helps shape national roadmap for immigrant family reunification. [News3LV]
A legal shortcut greenlit a data center on public land — and shut the public out. [RJ]
AI accusation against Las Vegas attorney raises ethical question in courts. [News3LV]
Public defender cites office closure in bid to delay Las Vegas death penalty trial. [RJ]
Metro changes pursuit policy, targeting DUI, stolen vehicle suspects. [RJ]
Lombardo likens Trump to ‘commanding officer’; says their relationship keeps ICE at bay. [TNI]
Let’s Talk: Get free legal advice on tenants’ rights, utilities support from our Ask a Lawyer Phone Bank. Have you ever volunteered at one of these? What was your experience like? [KTNV]
What it is like: The best part with any of this is that people mainly need help telling their story and knowing what to do next. So if you don’t have experience in a field, you will be totally fine to volunteer through a legal aid org.
I did try LACSN ask a lawyer by phone (not through a phone bank, just where they give you a list of people to call and try to get a hold of) and most of my time was spent trying to call people to catch them on the phone. I have done an in person LACSN event a couple times and that was a lot better, but I prefer SLP or NLS for volunteer time when I do it since they help with the follow up (like sending people resources or getting them on the waiting list).
Guest
Anonymous
July 20, 2026 9:58 am
It’s alarming that our Governor does not regard Nevada as sovereign. No, Governor, he is not your commanding officer or superior. You have no obligation to placate him to avoid his wrath. You are the executive, top dawg of a sovereign state. It is your right, and even obligation, to tell the President of the United States, whomever it is at the time, to go fuck himself when he attempts to impede upon that sovereignty. Even Danielle, whom I will be voting for, knows this.
Even more confusing – Lombardo campaigned on being tough on crime. He gave ICE National Guard support. He vetoed bills aimed against at that support. He collaborates in every way. He’s for ICE.
So, is ICE valid law enforcement only doing its sworn duty, or is it something else, Governor? Why would it need to be kept at bay? Why shouldn’t ICE be walking down Las Vegas Boulevard? Law and Order, right? Right?
Exactly, each State should be a completely independent entity. We’re the States of America, not the “United States” or any hippie woke nonsense like that. That’s why people always chant “S.A.!” at baseball games and fly Airlines and donate to Way.
I think what you’re saying is, “C’mon, man. You’re Joe Lombardo.”
Guest
Anonymous
July 20, 2026 2:18 pm
Per Chief Jones, there were 1500 more civil cases filed this year than last year. Great time to have four departments not handling any general civil litigation cases. Who makes these decisions???
Can I get a damn hearing in 30 days and a decision at the time of the hearing??? Worst is when they leave the hearings on and then don’t make decisions. What that really means is they didn’t read anything and have no clue what’s going on. And while you’re at it, sign the orders you’re all demanding we draft for you.
Dear Review Journal, please ask why when we have 1500 more civil filings, do four judges not handle a general civil caseload? And ask why decisions are taking so long!!!
I suspect some of this is AI driven. There are more pro se filings and the pace of litigation is picking up, as well as the number of cases that can be economically litigated.
And the Courts can just as easily use AI to be more efficient – and probably more accurate. I know there are risks, but I’d rather have AI writing the decision in my case than a non-licensed straight outta Boyd clerk for a judge who only practiced criminal law.
I’m not sure I agree at all. I use AI to run counterfactuals and to prep for hearings, stress test arguments, etc like almost everyone else does. AI will give any number of different rulings based on framing and inputs. Too many people treat briefing and AI like an equation with an absolute, objective answer. That is not how the law works and one of my biggest fears about AI and the law. Sure, let the JEA run AI on the briefing. How is she framing it? Is the AI reviewing just this round of brifing or the entire record? How is AI instructed to treat the entire record relative to the brifing at issue? How these questions are framed, and whether they are even asked, can be determinative of the ultimate outcome on a motion or more. So even among our worst judges, I’m not sure AI is really improving much, if anything.
Then you’ve never seen our worst judges. I’ve got two orders where the Court told me the existence of a duty is a question of fact for the jury. AI would be unlikely to screw up that.
AI is not an omniscient God. It’s just a mirror. You don’t realize you’re trading one form of error for another, the latter being nearly impossible to identify in the record on appeal, which is not something I’m comfortable with.
What? you are a lawyer that is not comfortable stating the reversible error in an AI’s Order but you think a judge clearly types it out for you? How can AI hide the error better than a judge? AI might be easier since OC does not write the order and try to smooth out and remove all the blatant legal error that drove a decision.
Your argument does not pass muster. There are active judges on the bench that are overturned more than 50% of the time. That means a COIN, not AI would do as good of a job as they do. You could basically flip a coin with Plaintiff on one side and defense on the other, and rule for them and tell the “winner” to write up the order for signature and be better than several of the current judges. They should likely be thinking why they are so bad that they cannot beat 50% by guessing at the law.
Think about that. 50%. Grab someone off the street with only common sense and they likely would guess better than 50% just by reading the briefing and then asking a few questions in google about certain arguments.
50% is very bad but it’s not true that it’s the same as a coinflip deciding cases. 50% of cases *that go up on appeal* result in reversal. In civil cases, you should only take an appeal if you have a reasonable probability of winning, which means that these judges issue lots of orders that would be affirmed on appeal — they’re just never appealed. Of the close calls, they get overturned 50% of the time.
Where was this reported about more civil cases? Is this something heard at the courthouse? Also, what happened to the records request on cases and assignments to departments. Some judges say they are buried. Others are reputed to have a lighter caseload. Inquiring minds want to know.
civil cases are hard. you need to know and understand the law. criminal law is easy, everyone arrested must be guilty and the PD are not able to provide an adequate defense. Additionally, you do not even look bad or get bad press if you release someone on time served for kidnapping and SA and then within a month of being out, they go and kidnap and murder two senior citizens in another case. Very limited downside it would seem.
Surely, the cases haunt you though and you feel for the victims and are terrified of locking up innocent people? It would seem you would rather have a full civil calendar of neighbors fighting over property lines or facebook posts?
What it is like: The best part with any of this is that people mainly need help telling their story and knowing what to do next. So if you don’t have experience in a field, you will be totally fine to volunteer through a legal aid org.
I did try LACSN ask a lawyer by phone (not through a phone bank, just where they give you a list of people to call and try to get a hold of) and most of my time was spent trying to call people to catch them on the phone. I have done an in person LACSN event a couple times and that was a lot better, but I prefer SLP or NLS for volunteer time when I do it since they help with the follow up (like sending people resources or getting them on the waiting list).
It’s alarming that our Governor does not regard Nevada as sovereign. No, Governor, he is not your commanding officer or superior. You have no obligation to placate him to avoid his wrath. You are the executive, top dawg of a sovereign state. It is your right, and even obligation, to tell the President of the United States, whomever it is at the time, to go fuck himself when he attempts to impede upon that sovereignty. Even Danielle, whom I will be voting for, knows this.
Even more confusing – Lombardo campaigned on being tough on crime. He gave ICE National Guard support. He vetoed bills aimed against at that support. He collaborates in every way. He’s for ICE.
So, is ICE valid law enforcement only doing its sworn duty, or is it something else, Governor? Why would it need to be kept at bay? Why shouldn’t ICE be walking down Las Vegas Boulevard? Law and Order, right? Right?
Last time I checked, the states haven’t been sovereign for almost 200 years
Should probably check again. Federalism is not the same thing as being a vassal. There are sovereignty issues at play.
Aren’t Trump and his Supreme Court always saying, “it should be left up to each state”? Listen to Barrett on Roe v. Wade.
Exactly, each State should be a completely independent entity. We’re the States of America, not the “United States” or any hippie woke nonsense like that. That’s why people always chant “S.A.!” at baseball games and fly Airlines and donate to Way.
I think what you’re saying is, “C’mon, man. You’re Joe Lombardo.”
Per Chief Jones, there were 1500 more civil cases filed this year than last year. Great time to have four departments not handling any general civil litigation cases. Who makes these decisions???
Can I get a damn hearing in 30 days and a decision at the time of the hearing??? Worst is when they leave the hearings on and then don’t make decisions. What that really means is they didn’t read anything and have no clue what’s going on. And while you’re at it, sign the orders you’re all demanding we draft for you.
Dear Review Journal, please ask why when we have 1500 more civil filings, do four judges not handle a general civil caseload? And ask why decisions are taking so long!!!
I suspect some of this is AI driven. There are more pro se filings and the pace of litigation is picking up, as well as the number of cases that can be economically litigated.
And the Courts can just as easily use AI to be more efficient – and probably more accurate. I know there are risks, but I’d rather have AI writing the decision in my case than a non-licensed straight outta Boyd clerk for a judge who only practiced criminal law.
I’m not sure I agree at all. I use AI to run counterfactuals and to prep for hearings, stress test arguments, etc like almost everyone else does. AI will give any number of different rulings based on framing and inputs. Too many people treat briefing and AI like an equation with an absolute, objective answer. That is not how the law works and one of my biggest fears about AI and the law. Sure, let the JEA run AI on the briefing. How is she framing it? Is the AI reviewing just this round of brifing or the entire record? How is AI instructed to treat the entire record relative to the brifing at issue? How these questions are framed, and whether they are even asked, can be determinative of the ultimate outcome on a motion or more. So even among our worst judges, I’m not sure AI is really improving much, if anything.
Then you’ve never seen our worst judges. I’ve got two orders where the Court told me the existence of a duty is a question of fact for the jury. AI would be unlikely to screw up that.
AI is not an omniscient God. It’s just a mirror. You don’t realize you’re trading one form of error for another, the latter being nearly impossible to identify in the record on appeal, which is not something I’m comfortable with.
Pointing out the error on appeal will ever be our job.
What? you are a lawyer that is not comfortable stating the reversible error in an AI’s Order but you think a judge clearly types it out for you? How can AI hide the error better than a judge? AI might be easier since OC does not write the order and try to smooth out and remove all the blatant legal error that drove a decision.
Your argument does not pass muster. There are active judges on the bench that are overturned more than 50% of the time. That means a COIN, not AI would do as good of a job as they do. You could basically flip a coin with Plaintiff on one side and defense on the other, and rule for them and tell the “winner” to write up the order for signature and be better than several of the current judges. They should likely be thinking why they are so bad that they cannot beat 50% by guessing at the law.
Think about that. 50%. Grab someone off the street with only common sense and they likely would guess better than 50% just by reading the briefing and then asking a few questions in google about certain arguments.
50% is very bad but it’s not true that it’s the same as a coinflip deciding cases. 50% of cases *that go up on appeal* result in reversal. In civil cases, you should only take an appeal if you have a reasonable probability of winning, which means that these judges issue lots of orders that would be affirmed on appeal — they’re just never appealed. Of the close calls, they get overturned 50% of the time.
Not all of the subset are close calls. Not by a country mile.
Where was this reported about more civil cases? Is this something heard at the courthouse? Also, what happened to the records request on cases and assignments to departments. Some judges say they are buried. Others are reputed to have a lighter caseload. Inquiring minds want to know.
In open forums and in judges meetings. From Chief Jones herself.
AI or no AI. Error rates or none. Why are there four departments not handling a civil caseload when the filings have increased 1500 from last year?
civil cases are hard. you need to know and understand the law. criminal law is easy, everyone arrested must be guilty and the PD are not able to provide an adequate defense. Additionally, you do not even look bad or get bad press if you release someone on time served for kidnapping and SA and then within a month of being out, they go and kidnap and murder two senior citizens in another case. Very limited downside it would seem.
Surely, the cases haunt you though and you feel for the victims and are terrified of locking up innocent people? It would seem you would rather have a full civil calendar of neighbors fighting over property lines or facebook posts?