More judges proposed for Family Court

Wednesday, March 31, 1999 | 10:30 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Clark County Family Court Judge Dianne Steel says she must sometimes make decisions affecting a family's future in 15 minutes.

"Fifteen minutes doesn't cut it when you have messy cases," Steel told the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday in supporting the addition of five Family Court judges in Las Vegas.

Senate Bill 401 calls for creating the five new judges starting in January 2001. Those who want the job would run in the November 2000 election.

The state would pay the salaries of the judges, but Clark County would pick up the rest of the cost, including staff and courtrooms.

And there's the rub.

"There is simply no room for five judges," Jim Spinello, lobbyist for Clark County, told the committee. "Our biggest dilemma is where to place the judges."

He said the county can support three new judges.

Clark County is building a justice center for municipal judges, justices of the peace, district judges and the Nevada Supreme Court. The family judges will not be in this complex.

Steel and Chuck Short, court administrator for Clark County, told the committee that Southern Nevada is shortchanged when compared to Family Court judges in Washoe County. In 1998 an average of 2,486 cases were assigned to each Family Court judge in Las Vegas, compared to 1,151 cases for one judge in Reno.

"The lines are longer," Short said. "There's more time before families (in Southern Nevada) can access justice."

The consequences of an overburdened court are many, according to a publication of the Family Court. Families languish in the system longer than necessary, their financial resources are depleted because of legal fees and loss of work because of court appearances, and new and false accusations escalate as the case drags on.

Steel said the Family Court system is following many of the recommendations of a legislative study committee on ways to modernize the system. And the judges are working hard.

The Clark County Family Court, which has eight judges, receives support from Senior Judge Norman Robison of Lyon County, who now travels the state hearing cases. He said "it's a night and day" difference between Clark and Washoe counties.

"It's unrealistic the amount of hearings you have (in Clark County) to keep up," Robison said.

Total filings in Family Court have risen from 25,090 in 1993 to 37,290 last year. And the number is expected to go to 45,000 by 2001.

Short said discussions are going on with the county to allow five judges to be phased in -- three in 2001 and another two in 2003.

The committee will take action on the bill later this week.