FUNDING NEVADA'S COURTS

• NCJ Number: 59983
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 78 pages
• Corporate Author: Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPORT TO THE 59TH SESSION OF THE NEVADA LEGISLATURE

Annotation

A LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION RECOMMENDS FUNDING THE OFFICE OF NEVADA STATE COURT ADMINISTRATOR THROUGH LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION, INCREASING FEES FOR COURT SERVICES, AND PAYING SALARIES TO JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Abstract

IN NEVADA ALL EXPENSES OF THE SUPREME COURT AND THE SALARIES OF THE DISTRICT JUDGES ARE PAID BY THE STATE WHILE THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE COURT IS HELD PAYS THE REMAINING COURT EXPENSES. IN SOME INSTANCES JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND POLICE JUDGES ARE ALLOWED TO RETAIN A PORTION OF FEES PAID BY LITIGANTS AS PART OF THEIR COMPENSATION. A UNIFIED COURT STRUCTURE PROPOSAL IS BEING SUBMITTED TO THE STATE'S VOTERS FOR APPROVAL. THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THAT, IF THIS PROPOSAL IS PASSED, ALL EXPENSES OF THE STATE COURT SYSTEM BE PAID OUT OF THE STATE TREASURY. REGARDLESS OF THE FATE OF THE UNIFIED COURT PLAN, THE OFFICE OF STATE COURT ADMINISTRATOR SHOULD BE FUNDED THROUGH LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS AND THE SALARY SHOULD BE SET AS PART OF A TOTAL BUDGET AND NOT BE SPELLED OUT BY LAW. THE DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR SHOULD ALSO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE DATA PROCESSING AND THE GATHERING OF COURT STATISTICS, AS WELL AS FISCAL AND PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION. FEE CHARGED FOR COURT-RELATED SERVICES SHOULD BE INCREASED AND THE FEE RETENTION BY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE SHOULD BE ELIMINATED. THE COLLECTION OF FINES FOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS COULD BE INCREASED IF A DRIVER'S LICENSE WERE NOT REINSTATED OR REISSUED TO NEVADA RESIDENTS WHO DO NOT APPEAR IN COURT ON A CITATION FOR A MOVING TRAFFIC VIOLATION. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT AS MUCH AS $1.2 MILLION COULD BE RECOVERED THIS WAY. THE REPORT CONTAINS BUDGETS, A SAMPLE FEE SCHEDULE, AND SAMPLE LEGISLATION FOR EACH RECOMMENDATION. (GLR)