Archive for category Family Court
Clark County and Family Court to Celebrate National Adoption Day
Posted by Michael in Events, Family Court, Media Advisory on November 2nd, 2009
Clark County Courts will host the Eighth Annual Adoption Day Celebration on November 5, 2009. More than 80 children will have their adoptions finalized by the Family Court.
WHAT: Eighth Annual Adoption Day
WHEN: Thursday (Nov. 5) at 8:30 a.m.
WHERE: Family Court Atrium, Family Court and Services Center, 601 N. Pecos.
EVENT: County Commissioner Chris G. Giunchigliani will deliver the keynote address as Clark County’s Family Court, the Division of Family Services, and CASA observe the Eighth Annual Adoption Day at 8:30 a.m., Thursday (Nov. 5), in the Family Court Atrium, 601 N. Pecos, Las Vegas.
More than 50 parents will welcome more than 80 children into their families during adoption proceedings scheduled between 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. in five courtrooms.
Judges William E. Gonzalez, Cynthia N. Giuliani, Jennifer Elliott, Sandra L. Pomrenze and Senior Judge Terry Marren will preside over adoptions. Families and judges will be available to interview regarding the adoption process.
CONTACT: Michael Sommermeyer, Court Information Officer, (702) 671-4534, or Christine M. Skorupski, Public Information Officer – DFS, (702) 455-4019.
Juvenile Judge Seeks to Develop Solutions to Reduce Juvenile Delinquency
Posted by Michael in Education, Events, Family Court, Juvenile on October 1st, 2009
Minority Representation in the Juvenile Justice System Too High
LAS VEGAS – Clark County Family Court Judge William O. Voy will host a community forum titled “Preventing Juvenile Delinquency” at 1 p.m. Friday (Oct. 2) at the Pearson Community Center, 1625 W. Carey Avenue, North Las Vegas. The forum is sponsored by the Eighth Judicial District Court and the Clark County Department of Juvenile Justice Services.
“We have too many minority youth appearing in the Juvenile Court compared to the rest of the population,” said Juvenile Court Judge William O. Voy. “Though we have made great strides in reforming the juvenile justice system over the past six years, we have not achieved significant overall decline in the number of youth committing crimes, especially among minority youth.”
“Community intervention is needed to provide services for families and youth at risk. We want to provide a network of programs and services to parents to assist them in preventing their children from committing crimes so they never end up in the juvenile justice system,” said Voy.
The forum will bring community groups and agencies together to identify services and programs that can assist in preventing juvenile crimes in the community. The goal is to provide early-intervention services to families with at risk youth and work to prevent many juveniles from reaching the juvenile justice system.
Media are invited to attend. Contact Michael Sommermeyer, Court Information Officer, (702) 671-4534, for more information.
Family Court Clerk Closes Early Oct. 2
Posted by Michael in Administration, Family Court on September 30th, 2009
The Family Court Clerk’s office will close at 4:00 p.m. this Friday (Oct. 2) due to the construction of an improvement project. The Family Court and Services Center is located at 601 N. Pecos, Las Vegas, NV.
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.
Judge William O. Voy Addresses Underage Prostitution
Posted by Michael in District Court, Education, Family Court, High Profile, Judges, Juvenile on July 24th, 2009
Judge William O. Voy, a Family Court Judge in Clark County’s Eighth Judicial District Court, appeared Thursday evening (July 23, 2009) on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric to discuss the urgent need to tackle the national problem of underage prostitution in the United States.
Voy, who presides over juvenile matters in the Clark County Family Court, said the problem is a national one and not just localized to Las Vegas. He said the problem must be addressed by parents, courts and law enforcement in every city across the country.
Links:
- Nevada now has the most stringent punishments nationwide for child prostitution, pandering
- Judge, group launch bid to fund youth safe house: Foundation reception seeks aid to build facility for teenage prostitutes
- New law levies harsher child prostitution punishment
- NevadaChild.com
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Judges Practice Role Play to Help Parties Reach Agreement
Posted by Michael in Civil, District Court, Family Court, Judges on July 24th, 2009
Clark County Courts Judges will role play to learn how to mediate and resolve cases during training sponsored by the Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution at the William S. Boyd School of Law on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
More than 25 judges will participate in the training led by Dr. Peter Maida, a mediation expert. Maida will lead judges through family and civil court scenarios and teach them how to lead discussions, engage litigants and reach negotiated settlements in cases. The judges will act out each scenario and Maida will teach them how to help parties reach agreement. The course will focus on facilitating collaboration between parties and find common-ground for reaching a settlement.
This focused training will teach judges to lead mediations in various settings, such as divorce or foreclosure. The mediation skills will enable judges to provide better service, help parties reach a settlement and speed up adjudication. Mediation provides individuals with quicker resolution and releases court days for other trials.
“Matters coming to the court must be resolved quickly and mediation is an important tool,” said Chief Judge T. Arthur Ritchie, Jr. “Mediation may help families facing foreclosure, a divorce or any other matter that requires fast resolution and help from the court.”
In May and June, the Civil and Family Divisions conducted marathon settlement conferences which resulted in adjudicating 80 Family Court and medical malpractice cases in five weeks. This effort released more than 100 trial days for pending trials in the courts.
For more information contact Court Information Officer Michael Sommermeyer, (702) 671-4534.
Investiture Ceremony for Judges Charles J. Hoskin and William B. Gonzalez
Posted by Michael in District Court, Events, Family Court, Judges on May 12th, 2009
WHAT: Investiture ceremony for newly appointed District Court Judges Charles J. Hoskin And William B. Gonzalez.
WHEN: 3 p.m., Friday (May 15).
WHERE: Clark County Government Center, Commission Chambers, 500 Grand Central Parkway.
EVENT: During this ceremony, Judges Hoskin and Gonzalez will formally be administered the oath of office and will receive their judicial robes. Members of the judiciary, including the Nevada Supreme Court and the Eighth Judicial District Court, will attend the ceremony. Both Judges will make formal comments. A reception will follow the ceremony in the Clark County Community Room.
CONTACT: Michael Sommermeyer, Court Information Officer, (702) 671-4534.
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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Governor Gibbons Selects Family Court Judges
Posted by Michael in Administration, Family Court on March 5th, 2009
From the Governor’s Press Office:
Carson City - Governor Jim Gibbons today appointed William Gonzalez and Charles Hoskin to judgeships on the Eighth Judicial District Court Family Division in Clark County.
“I believe both Mr. Gonzalez and Mr. Hoskin will bring honor and diversity to the Family Court in Las Vegas,” Gibbons said, “Both of these individuals bring with them their own special personal and professional experiences that will enhance the fairness and effectiveness of the Court.”
Mr. Gonzalez is presently a Clark County Public Defender primarily representing juvenile clients through the criminal justice system. Mr. Gonzalez graduated from law school in 1997 and also holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration. “I am proud to have been chosen by the Governor for this position,” Gonzalez said, “I will work hard to make sure those appearing in my courtroom are treated with fairness and respect.”
Mr. Hoskin is in private practice as an attorney in Las Vegas and was admitted to the Nevada Bar Association in 1991. “I am honored and humbled by the Governor’s confidence in me and I will do my best to demonstrate that his confidence is well placed by serving the families of Clark County with distinction,” Hoskin said.
Mr. Hoskin will serve as Clark County Family Court Judge in Department E and Mr. Gonzalez will serve as Clark County Family Court Judge in Department F.
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Investiture Ceremony for New District Court Judges
Posted by Michael in District Court, Family Court, Media Advisory on January 30th, 2009
The Clark County Courts recognize the selection and admission of new judges to the bench with formal investiture ceremonies.
WHAT: Investiture ceremony for newly appointed District Court Judges Douglas E. Smith, Abbi Silver and Cynthia Giuliani.
WHEN: 2:30 p.m., Friday (Feb. 6).
WHERE: Las Vegas City Council Chambers, 400 East Stewart, Las Vegas.
EVENT: During this ceremony, Judges Smith, Silver and Giuliani will formally be administered the oath of office and will receive their judicial robes. Members of the judiciary, including the Nevada Supreme Court and the Eighth Judicial District Court, will attend the ceremony. All of the judges will make formal comments.
Judges Smith and Silver joined the District Court following their election in November after serving on the bench of the Las Vegas Township Justice Court. Judge Giuliani was elected to the Family Court in November 2008.
CONTACT: Michael Sommermeyer, Court Information Officer, (702) 671-4535.