Archive for March, 2010
Court Mourns The Loss of Judicial Officer
Posted by Michael in Administration, Chief Judge, Criminal, District Court, Media, News Release on March 30th, 2010
Kevin V. Williams, 51, died peacefully in his sleep this morning at his home. Williams served the Clark County legal community for more than 21 years, most recently as the Criminal Arraignment Hearing Master for the Eighth Judicial District Court.
Kevin Williams started his career in the District Court as a law clerk for Judge Addeliar D. Guy in 1989. The following year he transferred to the Clark County Public Defender’s Office, where he served as an attorney defending misdemeanor and felony cases. He worked for the Clark County Public Defender for more than 16 years before returning to the District Court in 2006 as its first Criminal Arraignment Hearing Master.
“Kevin was a tireless and conscientious employee who vastly improved our processes and helped this court run more efficiently,” said District Court Chief Judge T. Arthur Ritchie, Jr. “We are saddened by this news and extend our condolences to Kevin’s family.”
Mr. Williams earned a Juris Doctorate from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Ga., a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology from Clark-Atlanta University in Atlanta, Ga. and his undergraduate degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. He became a member of the Georgia State Bar in 1988, the Nevada State Bar in 1989, and the United States Supreme Court Bar in 1999.
Kevin Williams is survived by his wife Chestine, and his brothers, Judge Timothy C. Williams and Carl N. Williams, Jr. MD, of Las Vegas. Funeral services are pending.
Child Support Court Moves to New Location
Posted by Michael in Uncategorized on March 25th, 2010
Faster service and one-stop convenience are the goals of the Child Support Court of the Eighth Judicial District Court, Family Division as it moves to a new location. This relocation will centralize and improve the adjudication of paternity and child support issues. Beginning Monday (March 29) the court will be located at the Child Support Center of Southern Nevada at 1900 E. Flamingo Road in the Greystone Complex near the intersection of Flamingo and Spencer Street.
Court Clerk counters will open on Monday (March 29) to accept new complaints and motions in pending cases. On April 5, Child Support Hearing Masters will begin hearing their calendars in two courtrooms. Currently, the Family Court is partnering with the State of Nevada to potentially double the court calendars by July of 2010. Ultimately, the goal is to construct a third court room and hire another Hearing Master to manage this additional calendar.
“When this project is complete, there will be a significant increase in the adjudication of paternity, establishment and enforcement orders resulting in greater child-support collections for the citizens of Clark County. We want to become one of the most efficient, convenient and productive child-support courts in the nation and this is a monumental step in that direction” said Family Court Presiding Judge Gloria Sanchez.
The Child Support Center of Southern Nevada provides a one-stop facility for all child support matters from filing motions, to making payments to obtaining employment assistance. The Center will house the Family Court’s Child Support Courts and Court Clerks, the Clark County District Attorney’s Family Support Division, the Employment Assistance Program and the Nevada State Collection and Disbursement Unit (ScaDu).
Justice Court Judge Demonstrates Effectiveness Of DUI Courts
Posted by Michael in DUI Court, Justice Court, Specialty Courts on March 10th, 2010
LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas Township Justice Court Judge Tony Abbatangelo is leading a team from San Diego this week through a series of workshops to assist them in establishing a DUI Court program. Judge Abbatangelo will provide his expertise as an established DUI Court judge to help San Diego focus efforts on the creation of a program that will address the needs of individuals most likely to re-offend.
Abbatangelo is attending the three day workshop in Newport Beach, Calif. to provide assistance and advice to a nine-person team from the San Diego Superior Court. Judge Abbatangelo was recruited by the National Center for DWI Courts and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The San Diego team is made up of a judge, prosecutors, public defenders, probation officers, law enforcement and a DUI Court coordinator. Judge Abbatangelo will share the DUI Court experience in Clark County and provide the San Diego team with the needed tools to establish a new DUI Court. These programs have been proven to save taxpayers money by addressing the core of the individual’s problem which is alcohol addiction or abuse.
“The Las Vegas Justice Court’s two DUI Courts focus on a therapeutic court model to seek a change in behavior and a goal of reducing repeat offenses,” said Judge Abbatangelo. “We have been very successful and now the Las Vegas Justice Court is sharing its experiences and examples of success with other courts.”
DUI Courts address the hardcore drinkers. A driver with a blood alcohol level of .15 or greater is at least 20 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than sober drivers. Judge Abbatangelo uses token compliance gifts to reward and motivate participants to complete the program, which usually takes a year to complete. Attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings twice a week is required of participants in the Las Vegas Justice Court.
Participants doing well in treatment require less court appearances as they complete each phase of treatment. However, if a participant refuses to comply or has a relapse, the Judge can impose sanctions such as ordering the offender to return to House Arrest, writing an essay, community service, or requiring additional daily AA meetings.
All of these motivation and compliance strategies will be shared with the San Diego delegation. The conference continues through Thursday in Newport Beach.
###