Nevada federal judges may get a break

Benjamin Grove

Thursday, Oct. 21, 1999 | 11:35 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Nevada's six federal judges, who are "among the most overworked in the nation," may get some relief soon.

Congress this week finalized a $39 billion spending bill that includes money for the nation's commerce, justice, state and judiciary systems. Included in that bill is money for two new federal judges in Nevada.

The bill now heads to President Clinton for signature. Clinton has threatened to veto it because he believes it doesn't authorize enough money for new police officers nationwide.

The new judgeships ultimately are expected to survive negotiating between Congress and Clinton on the police officer issue.

As Nevada's growth rate has skyrocketed, so has its federal court caseload. The backlog now is putting a burden on court workers as well as plaintiffs and defendants.

"Last year the median time between the filing of a civil lawsuit and when that case went to trial exceeded 28 months and in some cases even stretched to more than three years," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in a news release.

In 1998, 863 cases were filed in Nevada, nearly double the national average of 467, according to Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev.

"With 5,000 new residents pouring into Southern Nevada every single month with no end in sight, our judicial system will continue to bow under this tremendous weight," Berkley argued on the House floor in June.

Nevada is ranked second of 94 U.S. districts for case filings per judge, Berkley said. Nevada is fifth in the nation in total number of cases pending.

"Justice delayed is justice denied," Berkley said today. "With the incredible growth in our state, we've had the same number of judges since 1984 and our population has doubled.

"There is no way our federal courts can continue to do their jobs effectively and accurately unless they can get some relief."

Berkley, an attorney, added Nevada's array of securities, antitrust and employment discrimination cases are increasingly complex because of the nature of gaming commerce.

Ultimately, Reid would recommend judge candidates to President Clinton, who makes final appointments.