lvcourtsblog.com

Senior Judge J. Charles Thompson granted an injunction sought by Dennis Kucinich seeking to allow him to participate in the Democratic Party debate scheduled for January 15, 2008 in Las Vegas. Judge Thompson asked Kuchnich’s attorney to prepare an order for his signature.

Kucinich’s attorney argued that NBC had violated the FCC’s rules on providing equal time on nationally regulated airwaves for candidates running for public office. NBC argued the equal time requirements do not apply to debates being broadcast on cable television. In addition, Kucinich’s attorney argued NBC had breached a contract made when the Democratic Party and NBC invited Kucinich to the debate last week, then resinded the offer. NBC denied it had invited Kucinich to participate.

Judge Thompson keyed in on who made the original invitation to Kucinich and then asked both parties about the subsequent change in the lineup for the debate. In making his ruling Judge Thompson said, “If the rules changed in the middle of the game, then I am offended by that.”

Senior judges generally are assigned to preside over cases when district judges are absent or unable to preside. They are assigned by the Administrative Office of the Courts, Nevada Supreme Court.

Media planning coverage of the motion hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. January 16, 2008 in District Court Department 5 should plan on setting up media live/satellite trucks in the Regional Justice Center Public Parking lot located near the corner of Casino Center and Bonneville Avenues. This location will be where the mult-box will be located for live coverage from the courtroom. The courtroom is located on the 15th floor of the Regional Justice Center. The pool for this hearing will be arranged through truTV (CourtTV) and a microwave feed is being considered for sending the signal out of the building down to the parking lot. Further details will be arranged on Monday when the court meets with truTV’s producer.

Media are asked to set up on the sidewalk opposite the south entrance of the Regional Justice Center along Clark Avenue. This is the location used in the past hearings in this case. The court will arrange to close Clark Ave. in front of the courthouse, if needed, prior to the hearing. Also, the Court Information Office will coordinate cable runs prior to the hearing.

Questions regarding media coverage should be sent to input [at] clarkcountycourts.us.

WHAT:   Marshal Division Swearing-in Ceremony

WHEN:   January 12, 2008 (Saturday) at 6 p.m.

WHERE:   Suncoast Hotel and Casino, 9090 Alta Drive, Grand Ballroom.

EVENT:   Members of the new Marshal Division of the Clark County Courts will take an oath of office and inaugurate Clark County’s newest group of sworn law enforcement officers. The Marshal Division is tasked with protecting the judicial process in the Eighth Judicial District Court and the Las Vegas Township Justice Court by ensuring the safety of individuals entering the Regional Justice Center and by protecting judges, jurors and other members of the judiciary.

CONTACT:   Michael Sommermeyer, Court Information Officer, (702) 671-4534.

###

LAS VEGAS – Students in the law magnet program at Canyon Springs High School will have a precedent setting opportunity to analyze a civil trial as the Eighth Judicial District Court brings its Short Trial Program to the school beginning at 8:30 a.m. December 7, 2007 in the Leadership and Law Preparatory Academy Courtroom of the high school at 350 East Alexander Road in North Las Vegas. The visit to Canyon Springs is a partnership between the Clark County Courts and the Clark County School District.

The Short Trial Program compresses trials into a one day process that aims to complete a jury trial quickly. The parties agree to spend no more than three hours per side to present their case to the jury. The jury is smaller, with three of four jurors required to reach a verdict.

“The Short Trial concept provides the perfect educational experience for students because it takes all the elements of a complex trial and distills it down into one day,” said Judge Timothy C. Williams, who will preside over Friday’s case. “The opportunity to show young people the legal process, and give them a first-hand experience, is a wonderful teaching tool for the District Court and the Clark County School District.”

More than 600 students make up the Leadership and Law Preparatory Academy, which educates high school students on the basics of the American legal system and prepares them for leadership positions in their school and community. Students graduate with an Honors Diploma after taking classes focusing on economics, policy studies, political analysis and law.

“We are ecstatic that Judge Williams has offered our students this opportunity. It will be a great benefit to the law program and all of our students. We hope to continue this partnership in the future. I hope we can make it a permanent part of the curriculum because I know of no other high school in the country that can offer this type of educational experience to its students,” said Dr. Ronan Matthew, principal at Canyon Springs High School.

At the conclusion of the trial, students will be encouraged to visit with the attorneys, judge, marshal, court clerk, law clerk, court reporter to learn more about careers in the legal system. In addition, students will be able to question the jurors about their participation in the proceeding and why they reached a specific decision.

“By taking the Short Trial Program to Canyon Springs High School we essentially are bringing an existent court to the school and providing a learning experience,” said Alternative Dispute Resolution Commissioner Chris A. Beecroft Jr., who supervises the Short Trial Program. For instance, the court intends to further this partnership with the Clark County School District to include truancy and juvenile hearings. Other Short Trial cases are expected to return to Canyon Springs in the future.

###

All media wishing to participate in the television pool must submit media requests with the Court 72-hours prior to the start of the trial. A media pool area will be provided via microwave feed to the Clark County Parking Lot, near Bonneville Avenue.

A still pool photographer, as selected by the media, will be allowed to occupy a designated area of the courtroom.

Media wishing to obtain seats during this trial should contact Michael Sommermeyer, Court Information Officer, prior to the start of jury selection. Media must present credentials in advance to obtain media seating for this trial.

Assignment editors, producers and journalists wishing to track specific cases, or keep track of media requests, can do so with the many RSS Feeds created by the Clark County Courts. RSS, which means Really Simple Syndication, allows individuals to keep track of news as it is published. Popular RSS Readers include, Google Reader, NewsGator and Snarfer.

The Court Information Office provides calendar feeds for High Profile Trials, specific cases, and feeds for individual media. Feeds from this blog also track specific Categories and specific cases. For instance, an editor can quickly review an RSS feed tracking all of the Media Request Forms filed with the court for their media outlet and determine if they have permission to photograph in a courtroom. (Media seeking to access a specific media feeds should contact the Court Information Office).

A previous post explains how RSS works in simple terms.

Judge Joe Bonaventure denied a motion to compel the District Attorney to use the best original version of any audio tapes of defendant statements when presenting audio evidence at a preliminary hearing or before the Clark County Grand Jury. Bonaventure indicated the motion was premature and these were issues that should be handled at the preliminary hearing.

The preliminary hearing for defendants Michael McClinton and Charles Cashmore has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday (Oct. 4) in Justice Court Department 9.

Media planning coverage of State v. Simpson, et. al. should arrive at the Regional Justice Center by 7 a.m. and enter the courthouse through the Clark Avenue entrance. The proceedings will take place in Courtroom 1A.

Only media who provided the names of media representatives will be given priority seating in the courtroom. Other media wishing to register for priority seating should send an email to the Court Information Officer by 6 a.m. PST Wednesday (Sept. 19).

In order to provide seating to all individuals wishing to participate in this proceeding, the Court Information Office has limited media outlets to two (2) individuals each. An overflow courtroom will be provided for additional seating. Individuals attending this court session should prepare to enter the courthouse through security screening and follow the instructions of the Clark County Courts Marshals.

Media Pool participation requires media outlets to file a Media Request Form and fax it to (702) 671-4535. Only media requesting access may participate in the pool, in pursuant with Nevada Supreme Court Rules for Trial Coverage.

The public also will be provided seating in the courtroom and the overflow courtroom. Clark County Courts Marshals will close Courtroom 1A to the public once all the seats have been taken and direct individuals to Courtroom 1B.

WHAT:   Investiture ceremony for newly appointed District Court Judge
Elissa F. Cadish.

WHEN:   3:30 p.m., Friday (August 24).

WHERE:   Clark County Government Center, Commission Chambers, 500 Grand Central Parkway.

EVENT:   During this ceremony, Judge Cadish will formally be administered the oath of office and will receive her judicial robes. Members of the judiciary, including the Nevada Supreme Court and the Eighth Judicial District Court, will attend the ceremony. Judge Cadish will make formal comments. A reception will follow the ceremony in the Clark County Community Room.

CONTACT:   Michael Sommermeyer, Court Information Officer, (702) 671-4535.

A delegation of Korean judges and court administrative officials will visit the Eighth Judicial District Court Monday (Aug. 6) and Tuesday (Aug. 7) for two days of observation and education at the Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis Ave, and the Family Courts and Services Center, 601 N. Pecos Ave.

The delegation has several goals for its visit, namely:
1) to observe a trial;
2) to engage judges and court staff in discussions regarding their job responsibilities/division of labor;
3) to engage judges and court staff in discussions regarding the use of oral arguments and proceedings, how judges preside over jury trials, as well as various details regarding trial procedures;
4) and, to participate in a tour of the court and observe the general workings of the court.

The delegations will be led by the Honorable Yong Suk Shin, Presiding Judge, Jecheon Branch Court, Cheongju District Court and Chang-hak Jo, Presiding Judge, Daegu District Court. They will be hosted by Chief Judge Kathy Hardcastle of the Eighth Judicial District Court.