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Nevada’s judiciary claims as its mission providing “impartial, efficient and accessible dispute resolution in legal matters.” That justice is dispensed through a system of municipal and justice courts, district courts and the Nevada Supreme Court.

Nevada's Supreme Court

The Nevada Supreme Court is the highest court in the state’s judicial system.

Only three justices sat on the court’s bench from 1864 to 1967, when the legislature increased the size of the court to five. Two more justices were added in 1997, bringing the court’s total to seven members. Each justice is elected to a six-year term, with the exception of the two new justices who were chosen in 1998; they served two years until the next election cycle in 2000. The governor fills any midterm vacancies by appointment. The most senior justice, presently A. William Maupin, serves a two-year term as the chief. If two justices are tied for seniority, the chief justice is chosen by lot.

The main constitutional function of the Supreme Court is to review appeals resulting from the decisions made in District Court. The Supreme Court does not pursue fact-finding by conducting trials, but rather reviews the records of the trial in lower courts to determine whether legal errors were made in rendering the decision. The high court can affirm, modify or set aside the lower court’s decision on appeal. The court must consider all appeals that are filed, but beginning in January of 1999 the justices were given the authority to hear many cases in panels of three – one in Carson City and one in Las Vegas – to expedite matters. Membership on these panels rotates each 12 months.

The full court sits in Carson City twice annually, for cases designated to be heard “en banc,” that is, with all justices participating.

The court’s schedule, oral arguments calendar and a 90-day archive of opinions are all available online.

Nevada's District Courts

Nevada's District Court venues have general jurisdiction over all legal disputes. These are the courts where criminal, family, civil and juvenile matters generally are resolved through arbitration, mediation, and bench or jury trials. District Court judges also may hear appeals from Justice Court and Municipal Court cases.

Funding for the district courts is split between the state and the counties each court serves. District judges’ salaries are paid by the state, while the county funds support staff and the facility budget. The 17 county courts in Nevada are divided into nine judicial districts presided over by 64 judges.

Nevada's Municipal Courts

Nevada’s citizens are likely most familiar, and have the most contact, with the state’s municipal and justice courts. These are the courts that handle traffic and parking citations and lesser civil matters, the only sort of court of appearance many individuals will ever be required to make. Both courts have limited jurisdictions.

Municipal Court manages cases involving violations of traffic and misdemeanor ordinances that occur within the city limits of incorporated municipalities. Each of these courts are funded by the city and most of the funds collected by Municipal Court via fines and court costs are returned to the appropriate city’s general fund. As of January 2007, Nevada had just 17 municipal courts presided over by 30 judges, with nine of those judges also serving as justices of the peace.

Nevada's Justice Courts

The Justice Court handles misdemeanor crime and traffic matters, small claims disputes, evictions and other civil matters valued less than $10,000. Justices of the peace also preside over felony and gross misdemeanor arraignments and conduct preliminary hearings to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to bind suspects over for trial in District Court.

Each county funds the Justice Court that serves it, and the fines and fees collected by the courts are paid to the county treasury for disbursement to county and state entities.

As of January 2007, Nevada was home to 45 justice courts with 60 justices of the peace, nine of whom also serve as municipal court judges.

Other Nevada Judiciary Resources

Nevada’s judicial Web site includes a number of resources citizens can use to gain information or to help themselves in their quest for justice within the system. Among those resources are: 

• Information about the Court Interpreters Program for parties whose native language is not English.
• Standardized divorce forms to aid in marital dissolution.
• Standardized landlord/tenant forms for both static residences and mobile homes to smooth transactions between parties.
• Standardized legal guardianship forms for minors and adults in need of a legal guardian.
• A link to the Clark County Family Law Self-Help Center.
• A wealth of resources for those wishing to represent themselves in court.
• And a link to an extensive site known as the Nevada Legal Resources Directory.

United States District Court - District of Nevada

Nevada Courts - Nevada Court Directory for county courts.

Clark County District Court - Case Online Inquiry System

Supreme Court of Nevada - Search high profile cases as well as advance opinions.

Clark County Courts - Clark County Self-Help Center for individuals representing themselves in court.

Nevada Supreme Court - Search Opinions posted in the last 90 days.

Nevada Contexte CourtConnect - Search the court records by person name, business name, or case type.

Nevada Second Judicial District Court - Search cases by case number.

Nevada Supreme Court Library - Search the Supreme Court Library Catalog, Download Forms and Search Pr Se Resources.