December 2008 - the Clark County Courts in Las Vegas

ENBANC CLARK COUNTY COURTS
Volume 1, Issue 4 December 2008
Chief Judge
Douglas E. Smith
presides at a
news conference,
surrounded by
law enforcement,
as the Las Vegas
Township Justice
Court announces
Traffic Amnesty.
Las Vegas Justice Court Announces Amnesty For
Outstanding Traffic Tickets
By Michael Sommermeyer
The Las Vegas Township
Justice Court announced
Traffic Amnesty on
November 17, 2008. In the
first month, the court
improved collections of
unpaid traffic tickets and
outstanding fines by more
than 31 percent.
Individuals who have unpaid
traffic tickets in the Las
Vegas Township Justice
Court will be offered
amnesty until February 6,
2009 to pay an outstanding
obligation. The court intends
to collect all unpaid traffic
tickets by the deadline or
issue arrest warrants.
“Once amnesty is over,
individuals risk
additional fines, a mark
on their credit report, or
even arrest if they fail to
take advantage of it.
Amnesty is the best
opportunity to take care
of a long-standing
obligation with the court.”
Amnesty for unpaid
traffic obligations will
remain in effect until
February 6, 2009. Starting
February 7, 2009 the court
will begin enforcing
warrants for all unpaid
traffic tickets in the Las
Vegas Justice Court.
Individuals with
outstanding warrants risk
arrest for failure to pay
an outstanding traffic
obligation. The warrants
will be enforced by local
law enforcement with the
court partnering with
Metro and the Las Vegas
Township Constable.
“We are pleased to work
as a partner of the court
and will actively enforce
warrants for unpaid
tickets once this amnesty
ends,” said Las Vegas
Township Constable
Robert (Bobby G.)
Gronauer.
Resolve outstanding
traffic obligations with the
Las Vegas Township
Justice
Court by calling the
court’s automated phone
system at (702) 671-3444
or (877) 455-1289, visiting
the court’s payment
website, found in English:
www.clarkcountycourts.us/
paythefine
and in Spanish:
www.clarkcountycourts.us/
pagarlamulta, or by
coming in person to the
Traffic Division Office on
the First Floor of the
Regional Justice Center at
200 Lewis Avenue.
“We are offering amnesty to
anyone who wants to come
in and clear up an
outstanding ticket or warrant
with no additional
penalties,” Chief Judge
Douglas E. Smith told media
who gathered for a press
conference to announce the
program.
ENBANC INSIDE
Las Vegas Justice Court Announces End to Amnesty For Outstanding Traffic Tickets .... 1
Family Court Judge Brings Therapy To Drug Court Bench .......................................... 2
Court Leadership Messsages .................................................................................. 3
Employees of the Year ............................................................................................ 4
Clark County Courts Deliver Gifts to Children’s Hospital .......................................... 4
New Judges Join the Clark County Courts ............................................................... 5
EN BANC, Clark County Courts, is an online newsletter created by the Court Information Office. If you wish to contribute to this
newsletter, please send articles, news items, photos or other correspondence to: input@clarkcountycourts.us.
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EN BANC December 2008
2
Family Court Judge
Brings Therapy To
Drug Court Bench
By Michael Sommermeyer
A therapist and judge will soon
provide therapeutic justice to
individuals in the Drug Courts
of the Eighth Judicial District
Court. Chief Judge Kathy A.
Hardcastle has assigned Family
Court Judge Jennifer Elliott to
serve as the Eighth Judicial
District Court’s Adult Drug
Court Judge.
In addition to her Family Court
responsibilities, Elliott will
preside over the Adult
Criminal Drug Court, the
Prison Re-entry Drug Court
and the Dependency Mother’s
Drug Court.
Judge Hardcastle indicated that
placing a sitting judge and
preparing for expansion in
drug court has been a priority
for the court. “Expanding the
use of the Drug Courts is good
public policy,” Hardcastle said.
Judge Elliott has been a
licensed attorney in Nevada
since 1986, and was a licensed
marriage and family therapist
in Nevada, graduating from
University of Nevada, Las
Vegas in 1998 with a masters of
science in counseling, before
taking the bench in 2002.
“I am honored that Chief Judge
Hardcastle and Chief-Elect Art
Ritchie have the confidence in
me and my judicial record to
place me in charge of Drug
Court, which has over 600
participants,” said Judge
Elliott.
“There were less than five
drug courts when Judge Jack
Lehman pioneered Clark
County’s first Drug Court in
the early 1990’s, and now there
are over 2,700 drug courts
nationwide. This is because
drug courts work to reduce
state and county costs through
a reduction in the drug seeking
behavior and related crimes of
drug abuse.”
The District Court’s Adult
Drug Court program is
available as a sentencing option
to defendants with a drug
addiction. The court program
mandates sobriety and
advocates treatment over
incarceration for those willing
to change. Individuals accepted
into the program must abstain
from all drugs, including
alcohol, and attend counseling
sessions and weekly court
sessions for at least one year.
Currently more than 600
individuals are enrolled in the
Adult Criminal Drug Court,
which has expanded to three
days a week at the Regional
Justice Center. In order to
share courtrooms, Judge Elliott
will conduct in-custody drug
court hearings via video
conference. “We’ll do whatever
we can to get our work done
with the courtrooms we have,”
stated Chief Judge-Elect Art
Ritchie.
Judges Selected for
Leadership Positions
Judge T. Arthur Ritchie will serve
as the Chief Judge of the Eighth
Judicial District Court and Judge
Ann Zimmerman will serve as the
Chief Judge of the Las Vegas
Township Justice Court beginning
in January. Ritchie is the first
Family Court judge to serve as
Chief Judge of the District Court.
The new chief judges have selected
their leadership teams. Judge
Melissa Saragosa will serve as the
Vice Chief Judge in the Justice
Court.
“Drug courts work to reduce the
number of days in jail and
reduce state and county costs
through a reduction in the drug
seeking behavior and related
crimes of drug abuse.”
Judge Jennifer Elliott
The Eighth Judicial District’s Drug
Courts are considered models for other
courts across the nation. Since
September 1992, the Adult Criminal
Drug Court has served more than 9,000
people and more than over 3,900 have
graduated from the program. The
District Court operates an Adult
Criminal Drug Court, a Prison Re-entry
Drug Court, a Juvenile Drug Court, a
Dependency Drug Court, a Dependency
Mother’s Drug Court, and a Child
Support Drug Court.
POST Academy Approved
The Nevada Commission on Peace Officers
Standards and Training (POST) has
approved the Eighth Judicial District Court
Law Enforcement II to I Upgrade Academy.
This is one of the first part-time
upgrade academies in Nevada. Funding
has been provided by the Family Court
Judges from Administrative Assessment
fees. The academy teaches advanced law
enforcement techniques and provides a
higher standard in training and professionalism
for participating officers.
The District Court Executive Committee
for 2009 includes: Presiding Family
Judge Gloria Sanchez, Presiding
Criminal Judge Jennifer Togliatti,
Presiding Civil Judge Elizabeth
Gonzalez and at large members
Timothy Williams, Douglas Herndon,
Jackie Glass, Las Vegas Justice Court
Chief Judge Ann Zimmerman and Vice
Chief Judge Melissa Saragosa.
The two chief judges intend to continue
to work on projects together that will
benefit both courts.

Thank You for Allowing
Me To Serve
By Chief Judge Kathy A. Hardcastle
If I Scream, It Is
Because I Care
By Chief Judge Douglas E. . Smith
The New Year Brings
New Goals To Achieve
By CEO Edward A. Friedland
EN BANC December 2008
We have seen growth and many changes
during the four and a half years I have
served as the Eighth Judicial District’s
Chief Judge. We moved into the
Regional Justice Center, worked with
the Las Vegas Township Justice Court
judges to combine the administration of
our courts, and assumed responsibility
for the operation of the Clerk of the
Court.
Some of our accomplishments have been
small and others have had far-reaching
affects on the operation of the court.
Moving into the Regional Justice Center
opened up many new opportunities to
improve court services and we began
engineering new methods for working
with the court system.
The courts have worked to improve our
case management system and this has
led to the creation of the Attorney’s
Corner at Family Court. Bar members
can access case files and receive updates
on filings and pending motions using
this tool. The Attorney Corner utilizes
WizNet to allow attorneys to gain
secured access to family court cases,
minutes and documents from the office
or the courtroom. It is a model for what
the court will eventually offer in the
Civil/Criminal Division.
The court reconciled the Court Clerk
Trust Fund and returned to depositors
nearly $1.4 million in trust money. I’m
proud of the efforts and the work
required to allow the court to avoid the
potential loss of several millions of
dollars in trust fund deposits.
I’m looking forward to returning to the
bench and working with Judge Art
Ritchie who brings many talents to the
job of Chief Judge. As we move forward
it is incumbent upon the judiciary to
continue our tradition of innovation.
We have grown from a small city court
to a model metropolitan court system
and our challenges and tasks will
continue to grow.
I am proud of our accomplishments and
thank the court administration staff and
court employees for their support
during my tenure as Chief Judge. Thank
you for all of your suggestions,
comments and best wishes.
During our Justice Court Holiday
Party I was reminded of all the
struggles and accomplishments our
court has experienced during my
service as a Justice of the Peace. We
have seen our court grow and
respond to the needs of a growing
community. Our business practices
have changed and we have improved
how we serve the public. The court
has benefited from many talented
individuals and I am appreciative of
your service to the court and Clark
County.
During my video sendup, which I
thoroughly enjoyed, I was portrayed
as a bit demanding. I would like to
emphasize that this caricature was a
total exaggeration! But seriously, I
have wanted to improve the way we
do business in our courts and if I
have seemed too demanding it has
been in an effort to bring all of us to a
higher standard.
Our employees have risen to the
challenge and I am pleased to say that
much has been done to improve our
courts. For instance, in the Traffic
Division, our efforts have improved
how the public works with the court
to honor their obligations, from our
phone system to the on-line payment
system. Our Civil Division has
reduced the backlog of filings and we
are now able to respond much faster
to the needs of litigants.
I have served in the Justice Court
since 1995 and it has been a rich and
rewarding experience. As I move to
the District Court bench, I am looking
forward to the new challenge and
plan to bring that court a number of
the lessons have learned in the Justice
Court. Much of that experience I
have shared with many of you as we
have become a better court.
I thank everyone for their support
and help during my tenure as Chief
Judge. The court’s new leadership,
Judges Ann Zimmerman and Melissa
Saragosa, bring many new ideas and
both are dedicated toward further
improving the court. I look forward
to seeing the Justice Court continue to
improve and set new standards.
We accomplished much in 2008 and I
expect 2009 to be an even better year
for the courts. Elections and
appointments bring nine new judges
to the family division, four new
judges to the civil/ criminal division,
and four new justices of the peace to
Las Vegas Justice Court.
The Clark County Courts will
consist of 43 district court judges and
12 justices of the peace in the Justice
Court. Additionally, the courts will
have 15 commissioners and hearing
masters. These additional judicial
officers will help our court further
meet the needs of a growing
community.
In 2009 Court Administration and the
employees of the Clark County
Courts will be tasked with the
implementation of the Tyler Odyssey
case management system in the civil
division, the expansion of electronic
filing in the Family Court, facilitating
changes in the juvenile dependency
court, and providing assistance as we
make improvements in the
management of probate and adult
guardianship cases. In addition,
courthouse construction will take up
much of the year as we build out
courtrooms for our new judicial
officers.
The upcoming year will bring fiscal
challenges as the county and state
struggle to meet their budget
constraints and we will be tasked
with finding efficient ways to serve
the public. Court employees are well
known for their innovation and
ability to meet community needs
with limited resources. I am
counting on everyone to pull
together once again to maintain our
high standards of public service and
access to justice.
We have an accomplished team of
leaders to guide us through the
challenges of 2009 and I look forward
to working with them and all of you
to meet the needs of the judiciary and
the community. I encourage you to
support and engage our leadership in
the coming year as we work together
to meet our goals.
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EN BANC December 2008
Clark County Courts Deliver
Gifts to Children’s Hospital
By Michael Sommermeyer
District Court Chief Judge-Elect T. Arthur Ritchie and Las
Vegas Justice Court Chief Judge Douglas E. Smith spent a
few hours delivering toys to patients at Sunrise Children’s
Hospital on December 16, 2008.
More than 50 dolls, trucks, DVDs and other items were
donated by the employees of the Clark County Courts to
cheer up children ill during the holiday season.
The smiles on the faces of the children made the experience
very rewarding for everyone who participated. Our
own “Stanta,” Stanley Jeckewicz, jumped into the role and
brought a ray of light to all in the hospital as he served as
the Court’s Santa Claus.
The event was such a success, court leaders are now
considering a similar toy drive for a Christmas in July.
Employees of the Year
Christopher Demers (District Court), Norreta
Caldwell (Court Clerk) and Jeff Dunn (Justice
Court) were named as Clark County Courts’
2008 Employees of the Year.
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EN BANC December 2008
New Judges Join The
Clark County Courts
Pictured left to right, Bryce Duckworth,
Cynthia Giuliani, Eric Goodman, Abbi
Silver, Douglas E. Smith, Linda Bell,
Kenneth Pollock, Frank Sullivan, Bill
Henderson, Diana L. Sullivan, Mathew
Harter, and Kathleen Delaney.
Twelve new faces will be seen in January
in the Eighth Judicial District Court and
the Las Vegas Township Justice Court.
Judges were added to the courts by the
Nevada Legislature and the Clark County
Commission to respond to population
growth in Clark County.
Six of the new District Court Judges will
take the bench in the Family Division,
while four new judges join the Civil/
Criminal Division of the District Court.
Judges Abbi Silver and Douglas Smith
move to the court from the Las Vegas
Township Justice Court and will serve at
the Regional Justice Center.
Judge Linda Bell replaces her father,
Stewart Bell, in the District Court and will
serve in Department 7. Judge Kathleen
Delaney joins the Civil/Criminal Division
in the newly created Department 25.
Judges Kenneth Pollock, Frank
Sullivan, Cynthia Giuliani, Bill
Henderson, Mathew Harter and Bryce
Duckworth will serve as Family Court
Judges at the Family Court’s Pecos
Avenue Courthouse.
A former law clerk at the Eighth
Judicial District Court, Eric Goodman
fills the newly created Department 11 in
the Las Vegas Township Justice Court.
A native of Nevada, Diana L. Sullivan
brings experience as a small claims
court referee to Justice Court’s Department
12.
Three new commissioners and hearing
masters join the courts. Wesley
Yamashita serves as Probate Commissioner,
while Tom Kurtz and Bridgid
Duffy serve as Family Court Hearing
Masters.
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