Archive for category Trial
Model Drug Court Provides Way to Keep Families Together During Treatment
Posted by Michael in CourtTV, Criminal, District Court, Drug Court, Family Court, Specialty Courts, Trial on August 13th, 2009
The Clark County Courts have been working with the federal government since March 2008 to develop a new drug court that allows mothers to avoid jail and obtain treatment. The unique aspect of this story is the mothers live with their children in a residential treatment program at WestCare. The court will honor a graduate at 1 p.m. on Friday (Aug. 14) and seven more mothers are preparing to graduate. This program not only keeps families together but reduces the cost of incarceration in the Clark County Detention Center or a Nevada State Prison.
WHAT: A new graduate of the Dependency Mothers’ Drug Court will be recognized.
WHEN: 1 p.m., Friday (August 14).
WHERE: Westcare, 5659 Duncan Dr, Las Vegas, (Off Rancho and Duncan).
EVENT: Since March 2008 the Clark County Courts have participated as a model court in a new federal program that works to help mothers become drug free in a unique residential treatment program. The Dependency Mothers’ Drug Court was established to assist women who have child custody issues due to their addiction to methamphetamine or other substances.
The residential treatment program is unique in that mothers and their children live together while receiving treatment. The Dependency Mothers’ Drug Court provides a positive alternative to incarceration that rehabilitates and strengthens families, breaks the cycle of drug use and enhances family reunification efforts.
The first graduate of this program will be honored. In addition, the court has seven additional mothers preparing for graduation. This event will recognize the achievements of these mothers and introduce this important program to the community.
CONTACT: Michael Sommermeyer, Court Information Officer, (702) 671-4534.
Caseload Reassignment Affects Five Judicial Departments in the District Court
Posted by Michael in Administration, Case Activity, Criminal, District Court, Judges, State v. Simpson, Trial on July 10th, 2009
The Executive Judicial Committee of the Eighth Judicial District Court has announced a plan for reassigning caseloads for five judicial departments in the Eighth Judicial District Court. The reassignments will involve the following judges: Judge Doug Smith, Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez, Judge Mark Denton, Judge Allan Earl and Judge Kathleen Delaney. While the actual caseload transfer will occur the weekend of July 25 and 26, 2009, the changes will be in effect starting Monday, July 27, 2009.
Effective Monday, July 27, 2009, the judicial department calendars will reflect the following changes:
- Judge Doug Smith, Department 8, will acquire Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez’s Criminal Caseload (Criminal Track 3).
- Judge Allan Earl, Department 19, will be receiving approximately 800 of Judge Doug Smith’s Civil Cases through a random reassignment.
- Judge Allan Earl, Department 19, will be receiving approximately 400 of Judge Kathleen Delaney’s Civil Cases through a random reassignment.
- Judge Kathleen Delaney, Department 25 will be receiving approximately 50% of Judge Mark Denton’s Business Court Cases through a random reassignment.
Effective July 27, 2009, any pending or future District Court matters, for reassigned cases, will be heard in the department consistent with the information above.
In the event the attorney has not exercised a peremptory challenge and wishes to do so, he/she must exercise the peremptory challenge in accordance with Supreme Court Rule 48.1 and the case will be randomly reassigned.
To confirm the newly assigned department or future court dates, parties may view the Eighth Judicial District Court’s on-line case inquiry information at https://www.clarkcountycourts.us/Anonymous/default.aspx.
Forgotten Children Take a Stand During Light of Hope Ceremony
Posted by Michael in Administration, Events, Family Court, Trial on April 6th, 2009
Clark County’s Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program will demonstrate the special needs of child victims of suspected abuse or neglect with a visual display during the 9th Annual Light of Hope Ceremony scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on April 21 in the atrium of the Family Court and Services Center, 601 N. Pecos Avenue in Las Vegas.
2,200 children are in Clark County foster care.
The Forgotten Children’s Campaign, consisting of 22 life-size cutouts of children representing 100 Clark County child victims of suspected abuse or neglect, will be placed around the Family Court campus to help raise public awareness of the struggles that exist for foster children. There are currently 2,200 children in Clark County’s foster care system.
“CASA volunteers provide these children with someone they can trust and rely on for representing their interests in court,” said Patricia Thacker, director of the Eighth Judicial District Court’s CASA program. “By giving these children a face, we hope these victims of abuse or neglect will not remain forgotten by our community.”
The Light of Hope ceremony will feature speeches by former foster care children, foster care families, CASA volunteers and children advocates who will speak about their experiences.
Prior to the Light of Hope, an Agency Fair will showcase various treatment providers and adoption and foster care agencies. These agencies will answer questions from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. and provide information about the services they offer for children and families.
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Court Wayfinder: Locations of Judicial Departments
Posted by Michael in Administration, Arraignments, Criminal, District Court, Justice Court, Media Advisory, State v. Simpson, Trial on January 6th, 2009
Las Vegas Township Justice Court
| Chief Judge |
Courtroom |
Phone (702) |
||
| Ann E. Zimmerman | 8D | 671-3408 | ||
|
Justices |
||||
| Dept. 1 | Deborah J. Lippis | 7A | 671-3341 | |
| Dept. 2 | Joe Scisento | 1B | 671-3353 | |
| Dept. 3 | Tony L. Abbatangelo | 7C | 671-3361 | |
| Dept. 4 | Melissa Saragosa | 7D | 671-3367 | |
| Dept. 5 | William D. Jansen | 8A | 671-3381 | |
| Dept. 6 | Nancy C. Oesterle | 8B | 671-3392 | |
| Dept. 7 | Karen Bennett-Haron | 8C | 671-3402 | |
| Dept. 8 | Ann E. Zimmerman | 8D | 671-3408 | |
| Dept. 9 | Joe M. Bonaventure | 6A | 671-3330 | |
| Dept. 10 | Melanie Tobiasson | 1A | 671-0602 | |
| Dept. 11 | Eric A. Goodman | 7B | 671-0836 | |
| Detp. 12 | Diana L. Sullivan | 8D | 671-0846 | |
Eighth Judicial District Court
|
Judge
|
Department |
Courtroom
|
Telephone (702)
|
| Chief Judge T. Arthur Ritchie, Jr. | H |
14 - Family Court
|
671-0825 |
| The following Civil/Criminal Divison Judges are located at 201 Lewis Avenue, unless otherwise noted. | |||
| Kenneth E. Cory |
1
|
16A
|
671-4324 |
| Valorie J. Vega |
2
|
16B
|
671-4318 |
| Douglas W. Herndon |
3
|
16C
|
671-4312 |
| Kathy A. Hardcastle |
4
|
10D
|
671-4306 |
| Jackie Glass |
5
|
15A
|
671-4360 |
| Elissa Cadish |
6
|
15B
|
671-4350 |
| Linda M. Bell |
7
|
15C
|
671-4344 |
| Douglas E. Smith |
8
|
16D
|
671-4338 |
| Jennifer Togliatti |
9
|
14A
|
671-4395 |
| Jessie Walsh |
10
|
14B
|
671-4385 |
| Elizabeth Gonzalez |
11
|
14C
|
671-4378 |
| Michelle Leavitt |
12
|
14D
|
671-4372 |
| Mark R. Denton |
13
|
12A
|
671-4429 |
| Donald M. Mosley |
14
|
12B
|
671-4419 |
| Abbi Silver |
15
|
11th Floor, 330 S. Third St. | 671-4412 |
| Timothy Williams |
16
|
12D
|
671-4406 |
| Michael Villani |
17
|
11A
|
671-4469 |
| David Barker |
18
|
11B
|
671-4459 |
| Allan R. Earl |
19
|
333 Sixth St.
|
671-4450 |
| David Wall |
20
|
11D
|
671-4440 |
| Valerie Adair |
21
|
11C
|
671-4452 |
| Susan Johnson |
22
|
15D
|
671-0547 |
| Stefany A. Miley |
23
|
12C
|
671-0574 |
| James Bixler |
24
|
10C
|
671-0591 |
| Kathleen Delaney |
25
|
11th Floor, 330 S. Third St.
|
671-0850 |
| The following Family Court Judges are located at 601 N. Pecos, unless otherwise noted. | |||
| William O. Voy | A | 18 | 455-5990 |
| Gloria S. Sanchez | B | 7 | 455-5991 |
| Steven E. Jones | C | 8 | 455-5992 |
| Gerald W. Hardcastle | D | 11 | 455-5993 |
| Vacant | E | 10 | 455-5994 |
| Vacant | F | 10 | 671-3545 |
| Cynthia Dianne Steel | G | 2 | 455-6940 |
| T. Arthur Ritchie, Jr. | H | 14 | 671-0825 |
| Cheryl B. Moss | I | 13 | 455-1887 |
| Kenneth E. Pollock | J | 4 | 455-1882 |
| Cynthia N. Giuliani | K | 6 | 455-1892 |
| Jennifer Elliott | L | 9 | 455-0158 |
| Bill Potter | M | 10B -RJC | 671-3553 |
| Mathew Harter | N | Shared | 455-1330 |
| Frank P. Sullivan | 0 | Shared | 455-1334 |
| Sandra L. Pomrenze | P | 10 | 455-1340 |
| Bryce C. Duckworth | Q | Shared | 455-1345 |
| Bill Henderson | R | Shared | 455-1350 |
District Court Case Reassignments
Posted by Michael in Administration, Criminal, District Court, Trial on December 31st, 2008
On Monday, January 5, the following changes will be implemented in case assignments for the Eighth Judicial District Court:
All Dept. 8 cases will transfer to Dept. 6.
All Dept. 6 cases will transfer to Dept. 8.
All Dept. 7 cases will transfer to Dept. 4.
All Dept. 15 cases will transfer to Dept. 23.
All Dept. 23 cases will transfer to Dept. 15.
Criminal cases from Dept. 3 will transfer to Dept. 5.
Civil cases from Dept. 3 will transfer to Dept. 17.
Criminal cases from Dept. 5 will transfer to Dept. 17.
All Dept. 17 cases will transfer to Dept. 3.
Criminal cases from Dept. 1 will transfer to Dept. 20.
Criminal cases from Dept. 20 will transfer to Dept. 1.
Dept. 7 and Dept. 25 will have all civil cases, which will be populated via random assignment from existing civil cases.
Probate cases will be heard by Judge Ritchie, Family Division Dept. H, at Family Court Courtroom 14.
State v. Simpson: Weekly Media Planning Call Sept. 3
Posted by Michael in Administration, District Court, High Profile, Media Advisory, State v. Simpson, Trial on August 29th, 2008
Reminder:
Media Planning Call Wednesday (Sept. 3) at 10 a.m. PDT
218-486-7200 Enter Bridge Number: 716XXX
We will discuss planning needs for:
- Pooling
- Parking
- Credentialing
- Media Setups
- Courtroom Access
- Decorum Order
Suen v. Adelson: Trial
Posted by Michael in District Court, Trial on April 16th, 2008
A trial involving the owner of the Las Vegas Sands and a Hong Kong businessman has begun in District Court Department 12. The lawsuit, Suen v. Adelson, is expected to continue through the month and into May.
Suen claims that Adelson failed to pay him for his work in helping the Las Vegas Sands obtain a gambling permit in Macau. Adelson contends Suen did nothing and did not have a hand in helping the Sands obtain the gambling license. The lawsuit was filed in 2004 and is being heard in front of District Court Judge Michelle Leavitt.
State v. Bass Jr.: Verdict
Posted by Michael in District Court, Trial on March 5th, 2008
A District Court jury found Dr. Harriston Bass Jr. guilty on all counts this morning, including murder and multiple charges of sale of a controlled substance. Bass was remanded into custody and will be sentenced April 22 in District Court Department 5.
State v. Mack, Opening Statements
Posted by Michael in District Court, High Profile, Trial on October 24th, 2007
Opening statements in State v. Mack began this morning shortly after 10 a.m. in District Court Courtroom 10D.
The District Attorney’s Office detailed a timeline, motive and method of the crimes alleged to have been committed by the defendant Darren Mack. Prosecutor Robert Daskas detailed how Mack allegedly premeditated the death of his wife and made a list of things he had to do to accomplish the murder. He then told the jury the defendant intended to murder District Court Judge Chuck Weller of Reno. Photographs of the crime scenes were displayed to the jury, as well as videotaped statements made by the defendant.
Defense attorney Scott Freeman portrayed Darren Mack as an abused husband who was under intense pressure during his divorce from Charla Mack, whom Freeman described as a violent individual with a split personality. Freeman described a highly contentious relationship between the Mack’s, which extended itself into the divorce proceedings.
Freeman then described events on the day Charla Mack died, telling jurors Darren Mack was attacked by Charla Mack and he was defending himself from her assault.
Defense Attorney David Chesnoff told the jury that Darren Mack suffers from a delusional disorder that prevents him from seeing reality and that he believes things that a reasonable person would discount or dismiss. He explained that Mack shot Judge Weller because he believes that the Second Amendment allows individuals to use weapons as a defense against tyrrany. Chesnoff explained that Mack didn’t intend to kill the judge and that he was only sending a message about the unfairness he believed he had experienced from the court system in his divorce case.
The trial is expected to continue this afternoon following a lunch break at 12:30 p.m. with witness testimony.
State v. Mack, Final Jury Pool Selected
Posted by Michael in District Court, High Profile, Jury Selection, Trial on October 23rd, 2007
The final jury pool of 35 potential jurors has been selected in State v. Mack. Tomorrow morning (Oct. 24) the attorneys will exercise their preemptive challenges and seat the final jury of 15 jurors for the trial. Judge Douglas Herndon expects opening statements will occur tomorrow morning around 10 a.m. in Courtroom 10D. Media seating will be arranged this afternoon and discussed during a meeting at 3 p.m. in Courtroom 10D.