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Governor Steve Sisolak released the Roadmap to Recovery Phase One Initial Guidance after a press conference today Roadmap-to-Recovery-Phase-One-Initial-Guidance

Eighth Judicial District Court Chief Judge Linda Bell sent an email to staff yesterday with an outlook for what can be expected at the court in the upcoming months. She noted that District Court is already conducting essential operations and has been functioning all along in line with Governor Steve Sisolak’s opening plan phase 1 parameters NEVADA UNITED – ROADMAP TO RECOVERY (3). Court operations will continue as such, during the Governor’s Road to Recovery Phase 1, and for at least 30 days after the first phase (a minimum of 60 days).

“We don’t yet have a clear understanding of Phase 2, so it is difficult to give a precise date when things will change. I do believe we will be operating under some degree of restriction for several months to come,” said Judge Bell. Her memo outlined a concerted effort to continue to move forward with cases to reduce potential backlog later. “Given that we may continue for some time with restrictions, it’s going to be important for us to figure out creative ways to do as much work as possible. We need to make sure that the parties are able to move forward with cases.” She encouraged alternative appearances with the technology that is in place for lawyers/parties/witnesses and judges.

With the eventual prospect of additional people coming into court facilities, safety is the priority.  Employees and those visiting the court are instructed to wear a mask, practice physical distancing and frequent hand washing to provide protection against infection.

It is anticipated, that it will be at least 75 days before jury trials are conducted. A plan will ensure jurors are safe and feel comfortable once jury summonses get underway again.  Because of the extreme limitations on the ability to do trials, cases will be prioritize, starting with criminal interstate compact and invoked trials. That will be followed by older criminal in-custody cases; civil five-year rule cases; civil preferential trial setting cases where there is a very elderly or ill party; and medical malpractice three-year rule cases. It is expected that mid-July and August would be focused on the invoked criminal cases with the next level of priority cases around September.

The Family Division continues to process essential matters and there was a recent case reassignment that is outlined in Administrative Order 20-15 Administrative Order 20-15. A guided interview process has been established for Domestic Violence Temporary Protective Orders (TPOs) that enables victims to complete TPO applications on-line with a guided interview menu https://wp.me/p1tnuA-1KI. “This is a great advancement given the unfortunate increase in domestic violence during the pandemic,” said Judge Bell.

The court is working on an electronic proposed order application process. The process is in the testing phase with eight departments. The application allows for orders to be signed and then filed, served and closed all at once. The plan is to expand the number of departments using the application. The application pulls from the department electronic inboxes. If the subject line follows the proper naming convention it will save you time down the road. Lawyers sending proposed orders should have the subject line contain: full case number – document filing code – case caption.

Judge Bell commended the amazing work accomplished by the District Court IT team and has repeatedly thanked lawyers, fellow judges and staff for their hard work, commitment and patience in her correspondence.

All the Nevada Eighth Judicial District Court orders related to COVID-19 that outline court processes can be found in one searchable chart at AOsummaryChart1_14 Once in the document, press cont F and enter a key word to search.

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