Ballot question would spread District Courts

Friday, Oct. 30, 1998 | 11:21 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Assemblywoman Gene Segerblom would like to see the day when Clark County district judges hold court in Laughlin and Mesquite.

She may get her wish if voters approve a proposed constitutional amendment on this election ballot to permit the Legislature to allow district courts to convene in places other than the county seat.

Question 3 on the ballot was approved by the Legislatures in 1995 and 1997 and now must be ratified by the voters. In both sessions, there wasn't a single dissenting vote in the Assembly or Senate.

If approved, it will cost counties more to dispatch the judges and staff to the outlying areas. But there's no estimate of how much, since it will be up to the Legislature to decide the locations.

Besides citing the extra cost, opponents say the district court should remain at the county seat where other governmental agencies are located and the court records maintained.

Assembly Speaker Joe Dini, D-Yerington, says, "I use to oppose this because you could play a lot of games. People could post legal notices in the desert" on such things as sale of property.

But he supports it now because of the population expansion. And he thinks the Legislature will be limited in what areas it designates. "You've got to have a decent courtroom and the facilities for the jury. "

This issue was authored by Assemblyman Roy Neighbors, D-Tonopah, whose judicial district encompasses Mineral, Nye and Esmeralda counties. At present the district judge can hold hearings in Hawthorne, Goldfield and Tonopah.

In the old days, the population center used to be the county seat. In Nye County, Tonopah has an estimated 4,500 to 5,000 people compared with 25,000 in Pahrump. "It's a 300-mile round trip to Pahrump," said Neighbors. If there's a major trial involving Pahrump, it would be easier for the judges and three staff members to sit in Pahrump, rather than requiring jurors, witnesses and others to travel each day to Tonopah.

The Nye County Commission has on its drawing board a new government building in Pahrump that could house the court facilities, Neighbors said.

Neighors has pre-filed a bill for the 1999 Legislature calling for a second judge in the Fifth Judicial District, and if the measure is successful, that person might be stationed in Pahrump.

Segerblom, D-Boulder City, says "For the average citizen, this would be so much better." She said the benefit will outweigh the costs.

If passed, it could prompt requests from Incline Village in Washoe County, Wells in Elko County, Austin in Lander County and Stateline in Douglas County to allow court to be held there.

Dini said after the next census, his judicial district of Lyon and Churchill County will be entitled to a third judge. One judge sits in Yerington, Lyon County's seat, and one in Fallon, the county seat in Churchill County.