- Quickdraw McLaw
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- No ruling yet from Judge Miranda Du on whether she will block plutonium shipments expected to be shipped to Nevada. [Las Vegas Sun]
- A bill expected to be proposed next month would add 15 judges in Clark County, and 1 each in Washoe County and Elko. [KNPR]
- What do you think? Do we really need more judges? Can the local talent pool support more judges?
The problem with the request for more judges is the added request for a raise coupled with rumors some judges are not working as often as they should. I think the legislature will pick one or the other if provided both options. Unknown how the new governor will impact the requests but the rumor is he is not necessarily pro-judge. DJs are funded from the State, I believe.
Yes. It does complicate a request for more judges whenever over the preceding year there has been media scrutiny about some judges not pulling their weight. And there has been a certain level of media scrutiny on that issue–including at least one judge who supposedly only reports to work a mere fraction of the total days in the month.
And these articles and general media scrutiny(about supposed slacker judges) will intensify once there is more coverage of the request for more judges.
And if there are more articles about slacker judges, the distinction will be rendered unimportant if the judge is not in fact a District Judge, the level where more judges are sought. Whether the slacker judges are a JP, Municipal Judge, Appellate, or whatever, the media and public does not care. Nuance won't matter. To them a judge is a judge, and if more money is sought to add District Judges, it will be of little import that the judges attracting media attention may not be District Court judges.
That all said, at least one of those who may attract focus does serve on the District Bench.
I believe the salaries for the judges come from the state, but many other expenses – staff, building space, supplies, etc. come from the counties.
Well, consider Sisolak comes from the County commission and each department costs the county, say $1 million (mostly salary for 3-4) including build-out costs up front, on top of the state-funded salaries at $225K each (not including benefits which a large chunk. Figure $3.3 mil to $4.5 million for 15 DJ salaries. That is a whole lotta change in a state that barely funds it's educational system. Annnnnd, judges who can't be bothered to work full days and/or full weeks. That isn't very good math.
15 proposed so that they can bargain and get 6-7 is my guess.
Speaking of expenditures, imagine what this will do to your wallet come election time!
10:50 called it! Watch-there will be all sorts of sheep saying there is no additional cost. It is in the budget…. Will sound as familiar as the appellate court building. Don't be snowed.
Around $20 to $60 per capita? Not bad if the wheels of justice move even 25% faster.
There is a news story on Channel 13 on tonight about ccsd assets going to the courts in Clark county. Wtf???
Where would the county put 15 new judges?
9 are in family court, 6 in district court. I say its time to build a second courthouse, maybe out in Summerlin.
I love the idea of a separate courthouse, away from downtown. It could be problematic, though, unless all the departments housed there were in the same specialty (business court, maybe?). Otherwise you have lawyers having to go downtown for one hearing, then across town for another, on the same morning.
Municipal court is in the process of building their own courthouse across from City Hall. That would vacate 6-9 courtrooms plus office space from City court programs and the City attorney's office (2nd floor) and their administrative offices (also second floor). There is some extra space. Family court can't handle additional courtrooms. The complex is old. Maybe they retrofit it at county expense?
They would build additional buildings downtown…there are properties nearby.
P.S. They aren't just advertising in our state for the new judge positions. Saw it advertised in LA.
What, on a billboard?
Seriously?