Archive for category News Release
Yamashita Named Probate Commissioner
Posted by Michael in Administration, District Court, News Release on October 7th, 2008
Clark County’s Eighth Judicial District Court has hired Wesley Yamashita to serve as Probate Commissioner. Yamashita replaces Thomas Biggar who retired in August.
Recently a partner with the law firm of Greene, Roberts, and Rasmussen, PLLC., Yamashita is a licensed attorney for the State of Nevada and was licensed in the State of Utah. He previously worked as an Alternate Hearing Master in the District Court.
Yamashita has been practicing primarily probate law in the State of Nevada for more than 20 years and was the top candidate out of an outstanding pool of applicants. He has the requisite skills and his knowledge of probate law will allow him to contribute immediately to the administration of probate matters with minimal transition time, according to Chief Judge Kathy A. Hardcastle.
Justice Court Shatters Internet Traffic Fine Collections Mark In February
Posted by Michael in Administration, Justice Court, Media Advisory, News Release, RJC on March 6th, 2008
Over $1 Million Paid By Phone And Web Providing Speedy Access To Justice
LAS VEGAS – February flew by yet the short month didn’t stop motorists from speeding to pay their traffic tickets. The Las Vegas Township Justice Court collected more than $1 million in traffic fines in just 29 days with its online and phone payment system. This set a new record and demonstrates that more people would rather “Leave the Line†and pay tickets at their convenience rather than stand in a line at the Regional Justice Center. Read the rest of this entry »
District Court Delivers Court To School in Partnership With Clark County School District
Posted by Michael in District Court, Education, News Release on December 3rd, 2007
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.â€Â
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.
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Young Authors Light A Candle Of Hope For Clark County Foster Children
Posted by Michael in Family Court, News Release on April 16th, 2007
[Editor’s Note: To arrange interviews with Heather Wilder or Raven Asay, contact Michael Sommermeyer, Court Information Officer, (702) 671-4534.]
LAS VEGAS – They offer hope to young foster children with such titles as “Court Talk,†“Raven’s Rampages,†“Heather’s Hurts,†and “Why Do I Have to Take Medication?†The young authors of these booklets aimed at foster children, Heather Wilder, age 13, and Raven Asay, age 12, join CASA and the Eighth Judicial District Court for the Seventh Annual Light of Hope Ceremony on Thursday (April 19) to recognize the critical need of permanent, loving homes for child victims of abuse and neglect.
The event kicks off at 9 am, Thursday (April 19) in the atrium of the Family Court and Services Center, 601 N. Pecos Ave., Las Vegas with an Agency Fair. More than 20 agencies will answer questions and provide literature about services available for children and families in the community, as well as information about how to become a foster or adoptive parent.
The Light of Hope Ceremony begins at 12:30 p.m. in the Family Court atrium. Wilder and Asay (adoptive youth) will join Michael Sausa (foster youth), to discuss their experiences and offer hope to other children. Wilder and Asay started writing to help them understand what they were going through as foster children and to help other foster children know they are not alone. Their books have been read by many foster children. Wilder recently was featured in People Magazine and will appear later this month on the CBS Morning Show. The booklets can be obtained at http://www.iseepuppy.com.
Michael (18) recently moved out of a foster home into his own apartment on an Independent Living Contract. An Independent Living Contract is a program by which the Department of Family Services (DFS) provides foster care payments directly to the child, so they can pay their own room and board and learn how to budget their own money, prior to aging out of foster care. The child must reside in an approved stable environment. Michael will graduate in June 2007 from Rancho High School in the Aerospace Program. He also works full-time.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month. The week of April 15th to April 21st is National Volunteer Appreciation Week. More than 200 volunteers with the Eighth Judicial District Court’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program serve as advocates and voices in court for approximately 550 foster children annually in Clark County. Currently, there are more than 2,200 children in foster care in Clark County.
During the Light of Hope Ceremony, candles will be lit symbolizing the promise of safety and permanency to children with abusive and neglectful backgrounds. Foster children will talk about their experiences, light candles and make wishes for those who come after them. The Honorable Gerald Hardcastle, Juvenile Court Judge, and Tom Morton, Director of the Department of Family Services (DFS) will also be present to promote the importance of the community getting more involved in efforts to fight child abuse.
The community is asked to show support for all children who live with abuse or neglect by shining their car headlights during the day on April 19.
For more information about this event contact Patricia Thacker, CASA Program Manager or Shelia Parks, CASA Program Administrator at (702) 455-4306
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Clark County District Court Integrates Court Clerk Functions
Posted by Michael in Administration, District Court, News Release on January 16th, 2007
Increased Efficiencies Will Promote Public Service And Access To Justice
The Eighth Judicial District Court assumed responsibility for the court clerk functions of the court today (Jan. 16) as part of a planned transition announced last year. The change allows the court to unite court clerk functions into its new case management system.
“Today we mark a milestone in the history of the court,†said Chief Judge Kathy Hardcastle. “Our efforts to improve access to justice will expand as the court makes its court clerk partners full members of the court team.â€Â
Last year the Nevada Supreme Court authorized the Eighth Judicial District Court to assume its inherent authority and duty to supervise its own operations and administer the court clerk functions as an essential task of the District Court.
For many years court clerks have provided invaluable service to the Eighth Judicial District Court under the administration of the Clark County Clerk. The move to incorporate clerk functions under the administration of the court increases efficiencies while returning accountability of the clerk function to the judiciary. “We are pleased to finally say our partners are now full members of the court team,†said Court Executive Officer Chuck Short.
“In the past, court clerks have enabled the District Court to implement many improvements, such as electronic filing of documents and the electronic scanning and storage of documents,†said Hardcastle. “The court will continue to rely on the entrepreneurial spirit and creativity of the court clerk employees to improve court functions and procedures.â€Â
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Judge Douglas Smith Selected As Justice Court Chief Judge
Posted by Michael in Judges, Justice Court, News Release on November 16th, 2006
Justice of the Peace Douglas E. Smith has been selected as the Las Vegas Justice Court Chief Judge, effective January 1, 2007. Judge Smith will serve as the Chief Judge for the Las Vegas Justice Court through 2008. The Chief Judge position is selected by the Las Vegas Justice Court’s Justices of the Peace and serves a two-year term.
“I am excited about the opportunities that face me as Chief Judge and the Las Vegas Justice Court. I want the transition from Judge James Bixler to myself to be as smooth as possible and to work with all the other Clark County entities to ensure our services continue to benefit the public,†said Smith.
Judge Smith earned his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University in 1979 and his law degree from Whittier College School of Law in 1982.
He has served the public as a private attorney, Clark County Public Defender, and as a Clark County Deputy District Attorney, prior to taking the bench.
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Family Court Cements New Families With Adoption Day
Posted by Michael in Events, Family Court, Media Advisory, News Release on November 13th, 2006
WHAT:   Fifth Annual Adoption Day
WHEN:   Wednesday (Nov. 15) from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a 12:30 p.m. reception.
WHERE:   Family Court Atrium, Family Court and Services Center, 601 N. Pecos.
EVENT:   Clark County’s Family Court, Division of Family Services, CASA and The Adoption Exchange will observe the Fifth Annual Adoption Day at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday (Nov. 15), in the Family Court Atrium. The event will recognize adoptive families who have adopted over the past year or who will finalize adoptions during special court hearings planned for Wednesday morning. More than 25 adoptions, impacting the lives of more than 35 children, are expected to take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in various courtrooms.
Judges Nicholas Del Vecchio, Jennifer Elliott, Dianne Steel and William Voy will preside over adoptions. Families and judges will be available to interview regarding the adoption process.
During the reception, new families will be welcomed by County Manager Virginia Valentine, National Mother of the Year Laurie Richardson, Judge Del Vecchio and a mother and daughter who finalized an adoption last year.
CONTACT:   Michael Sommermeyer, Court Information Officer, (702) 671-4534.
Clark County Courts Recognized For Pioneering Innovation
Posted by Michael in Administration, District Court, News Release on September 14th, 2006
SHORT TRIAL PROGRAM LATEST MODEL COURT PROGRAM TO RECEIVE AWARD
The Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research, based in Boston, Massachusetts, has awarded Clark County’s Short Trial Program its Better Government Competition Award for 2006. The Better Government Competition (BGC) is a catalyst for grassroots participation in policy making. The annual contest, sponsored by the Pioneer Institute’s Shamie Center for Restructuring Government, seeks innovative and concrete ideas to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of governmental services.
“This is an example of how an innovation in Nevada can be used to benefit litigants in another state,†said Alternative Dispute Resolution Commissioner Chris A. Beecroft, Jr. “We have been able to demonstrate how the Short Trial Program has reduced trial time and allowed access to justice in an improved way. This award further demonstrates Clark County’s originality and how our innovations can be adapted in other communities.â€Â
The Eighth Judicial District Court’s Short Trial Program allows litigants to complete civil trials in only one day. The program was created under rules adopted by the Nevada Supreme Court and it provides for an accelerated jury trial for cases not exceeding $50,000 in claims, unless the litigants agree to a higher amount. Read the rest of this entry »
Las Vegas Justice Court “Pay By Phone” Reaches One Million Dollar Mark
Posted by Michael in Justice Court, News Release on September 7th, 2006
“SKIP THE LINE, LIVE YOUR LIFE” - BY PAYING TRAFFIC TICKETS BY PHONE
The Las Vegas Township Justice Court has collected $1 million from customers willing to skip the line and pay their traffic tickets by phone. The court exceeded the $1 million mark Tuesday morning (Sept. 5).
“When this system went on line in May, we anticipated it would quickly become a popular way to take care of traffic fines,” said Chief Judge James M. Bixler.
The integrated voice response system took its first phone call in May following a $250,000 investment. Last month the court added Spanish-language support. The telephone system allows individuals to quickly make full payments, partial payments or schedule a new court date. It also will take a person out of warrant status. Most phone calls only take approximately five minutes to complete. Later this fall, the system will be expanded to allow individuals to process tickets using the internet.
“It is not often that you can pay back your initial investment in four months and at the same time improve customer service, but our court has done it,” said Judge Douglas Smith. “Paying traffic tickets by phone not only serves customers better but it is benefiting the court and taxpayers. It’s very exciting.
Roughly 220,000 traffic tickets are processed by the Las Vegas Justice Court each year. Customers can go to the front of the traffic ticket line by dialing (702) 671-3444.
¿HOLA, CÓMO PUEDO AYUDARLE? : Spanish Language Support Added to Traffic Citation Phone System
Posted by Michael in Justice Court, News Release on August 23rd, 2006
Las Vegas Township Justice Court recently added Spanish language menus to the court’s Traffic Citation Phone Payment System. By dialing (702) 671-3444, customers speaking Spanish or English can pay traffic citations quickly on the phone without having to travel to the Regional Justice Center. Spanish-language menus greet customers in their native language prompting them to schedule payments or pay traffic tickets in full.
“This added feature really expands our reach into the community and provides us with a tool for helping even more people pay their tickets in full or reschedule their court dates,†said Las Vegas Township Justice Court Chief Judge James Bixler. “It speeds up the process, provides Spanish speakers with improved customer service and extends our ability to provide access to justice for a greater number of people.â€Â
The system accepts phone calls and prompts callers to choose between Spanish and English. Both menus provide customer access to traffic citation information and gives them the option to pay traffic tickets in full or schedule payments.
Customers waiting in line at the court’s traffic counter can expect the wait to take as long as two hours. The IVR phone system processes a payment in roughly three minutes. Since coming on line May 1, 2006, the Traffic Division has collected roughly $850,000 in traffic fines from customers using the system. Roughly 220,000 traffic tickets are processed by the Las Vegas Township Justice Court each year.