Eighth Judicial District Court History
In 1929, the Nevada Legislature created the Eighth Judicial District Court to serve the needs of Clark and Lincoln Counties. Growth in southern Nevada led to a change in 1945 when the Legislature set the boundaries of the Eighth Judicial District Court to serve only Clark County. The Eighth Judicial District is now the largest general jurisdiction trial court in the state. The jurisdiction includes all municipalities and surrounding communities of Clark County. The court’s 58 elected judges preside over more than 97,000 criminal, civil, family and juvenile cases annually.
The Eighth Judicial District has received national recognition as a leader in innovation and technological advancement.
The Civil and Criminal Divisions of the court are located in the Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis Avenue, in downtown Las Vegas. The Family and Juvenile Divisions are located in the Family Courts and Services Center, 601 N. Pecos Road in Las Vegas.
| 2008 | Dept. VIII - Lee Gates retired Dept. XV - Sally Loehrer retired Dept. XXIII - Elizabeth Halverson removed Dept. E - Charles Hoskin appointed Dept. F - William Gonzalez appointed Dept. K - N. Anthony Del Vecchio removed Dept. XXV, N, O, P, Q, and R established |
| 2007 | Dept. XVII Michael Villani appointed Dept. XVIII David Barker appointed |
| 2006 | Dept. XXII established Dept. XXIII established Dept. XXIV established Dept. M established |
| 2005 | Dept. III Douglas Herndon appointed |
| 2004 | Dept. I Kenneth Cory appointed Dept. XI Elizabeth Gonzalez appointed Dept E Sandra L. Pomrenze elected Dept F Stefany A. Miley elected |
| 2002 | Stephen L. Huffaker retired Gene T. Porter and Jack Lehman recognized as Judges of the Year by the Nevada District Judges Association Dept XII Michelle Leavitt appointed Dept IX Jennifer Togliatti appointed Dept. L established |
| 2001 | James C. Mahan appointed to the Federal Bench |
| 2000 | Court releases first Judicial Case Activity Report detailing case activity Depts. I,J,K established |
| 1999 | "Docket numbers discontinued Dept II Valorie J. Vega appointed Dept. H T. Arthur Ritchie appointed Dept III Joseph S. Pavlikowski retired Ron Parraguirre, appointed Dept XII James C. Mahan appointed" |
| 1998 | Dept A Dept E Dept XIII |
| 1996 | Dept. IV Dept XI |
| 1995 | Dept. I J. Charles Thompson resigned Eugene T. Porter appointed |
| 1993 | Family Court was established Dept. VII Dept. XIII Dept. XV |
| 1991 | Dept. IV Dept. V Dept. VIII |
| 1989 | Dept. II Dept. VI |
| 1988 | Dept. X Paul S. Goldman terminated Jack Lehman appointed |
| 1986 | Dept. VI Howard W. Babcock deceased Robert E. Rose appointed |
| 1985 | Dept. IV Thomas J. O'Donnell deceased 3/26/85 Earl W. White appointed 6/25/85 |
| 1984 | Dept. XII Robert G. Legakes resigned 4/15/84 Myron E. Leavitt appointed to Department XII |
| 1983 | Dept. XIII Thomas F. Foley assumed office 1/3/83 Dept. XIV Donald M. Mosley assumed office 1/3/83 Dept. XV Miriam Shearing assumed office 1/3/83 Dept. XVI John S. McGroarty assumed office 1/3/83 |
| 1980 | Dept. IX Stephen L. Huffaker appointed 2/22/80 |
| 1979 | Dept. IX Keith C. Hayes deceased 11/27/79 |
| 1975 | Dept. I Dept. II Dept. XI |
| 1974 | Dept. IX Leonard I. Gang resigned 1/6/74 Keith C. Hayes appointed 1/7/74 Dept. X James Santini resigned 3/8/74 Paul S. Goldman appointed 3/12/74 |
| 1972 | Dept. X James D. Santini appointed 7/1/72 |
| 1971 | Dept. III William Morse resigned Dept. VII Carl J. Christensen appointed 7/1/71 Dept. VIII Michael Wendell appointed 7/1/71 Dept. IX Leonard Gang appointed 7/1/71 |
| 1970 | Dept. III Taylor G. Wines resigned 1/15/70 William Morse appointed 1/18/70 |
| 1969 | Dept. III Alvin N. Wartman resigned 10/14/69 Taylor G. Wines appointed 10/14/69 |
| 1967 | Dept. III John Mowbray elected to Supreme Court, resigns 10/1/67 Alvin N. Wartmen appointed 10/1/67 Dept VI Howard W. Babcock appointed 7/1/67 |
| 1965 | Dept. I David Zenoff resigned 4/14/65 Clarence Sundean appointed 4/15/65 Dept. V David Zenoff appointed 4/15/65 |
| 1960 | Dept. II A. S. Henderson resigned 10/31/60 |
| 1959 | Dept. III Ryland G. Taylor, deceased 3/17/59 John C. Mowbray appointed 3/23/59 |
| 1958 | Dept. I Frank McNamee resigned 12/15/58 David Zenoff appointed 12/23/58 |
| 1953 | Dept II Albert Scott Henderson resigned Department II 9/9/53. Upon resignation of A. S. Henderson, a new act became effective, creating a third judicial department. Albert Scott Henderson was then re-appointed to vacated position 9/9/53. Dept III Ryland G. Taylor appointed 9/9/53 |
| 1946 | Dept. I George E. Marshall resigned 7/1/46 Frank McNamee appointed 7/11/46 Dept. II Clifford A. Jones resigned 4/1/46 Albert Scott Henderson appointed 4/16/46 |
| 1945 | "Current 8th Judicial District was created, serving Clark County, only. Dept. I George E. Marshall appointed 7/2/45 Dept. II Charles Lee Horsey appointed 7/2/45, resigned 10/10/45 Clifford A. Jones appointed 10/13/45 |
| 1939 | William E. Orr resigned his position on March 8, 1939. Roger Foley was appointed to fill the position on 3/9/39, with his term to expire upon the next election. |
| 1929 | 8th Judicial District was created for both Lincoln and Clark counties, William E. Orr was named Presiding Judge. |
| 1914 | The original courthouse was erected on Third and Carson Avenue site. |
| 1913 | The 10th Judicial District was created, encompassing both Lincoln and Clark Counties. Charles Lee Horsey was appointed Presiding Judge. |
| 1910 | 4th Judicial District appointed George S. Brown Presiding Judge January 7, 1910. |
| 1909 | Clark County was created by legislative mandate, naming Las Vegas county seat. Clark County was made a part of the 4th Judicial District, composed of Elko, White Pine and Lincoln counties. |
| 1905 | City of Las Vegas created and government organized. |