Editorial: Authority is given to chief judge
Friday, Sept. 24, 1999 | 9:37 a.m.
It's been a tough journey, but rules finally have been adopted that should help provide for a more efficient delivery of justice in our courts. The Nevada Supreme Court this week approved rules that should result in greater accountability for District Court judges. Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Rose told state legislators earlier this year that some District Court judges in Clark County weren't working hard enough and handling their fair share of cases, placing a burden on other judges. Rose believed what was needed was giving more power to the District Court's chief judges in Clark and Washoe counties, to ensure that all judges were carrying their weight.
The Supreme Court had the authority to unilaterally adopt the rules, but instead tried to work with the District Court judges to have them devise their own rules that met the Supreme Court's general guidelines for accountability. Unlike in Washoe County where District Court judges readily agreed to a strong chief judge, there was resistance here. The first attempt by District Court judges to create some semblance of authority for a chief judge was rejected by the Supreme Court as being too weak. Eventually the District Court judges were able to agree -- by a razor-thin 9-7 margin -- to give District Court Chief Judge Lee Gates the power he needs.
As the Sun's Bill Gang reported Wednesday, the rules will allow the chief judge to assign and direct workloads. In addition, judges will have to be in the courthouse most of the day and coordinate their vacation days with the chief judge. Despite the concerns of some judges, their independence won't be undermined by what genuinely are nominal standards. There also will be safeguards, with the rules permitting two-thirds of judges to either remove a chief judge or overturn his edicts. This is an important first step to make the local judicial system work more efficiently and encourage accountability.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- 6th arrest made in officer’s death; 5 face formal charges
- Metro officer remembered as ‘protector’ of family, community
- Shoppers guide to Black Friday in Las Vegas
- Harrah’s working on plan to take over Planet Hollywood
- Judge’s divorce filing follows arrest of her husband, a lawyer
- ‘DWTS’ champ Donny Osmond still deft afoot in return to Flamingo
- Kellogg Media Group files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy
- Task force taking down mortgage scammers, one at a time
- UNLV zaps Holy Cross, 80-59
- Contractors make another bid for Fontainebleau
Blogs
The Kats Report
For Paul Stanley and KISS, rock and roll is not over (1 Comment)
Twenty years ago today, Human Nature took root on the farm
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
Photo Gallery: Donny Osmond’s triumphant return to the Flamingo
The Kats Report
'DWTS' champ Donny Osmond still deft afoot in return to Flamingo (7 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Meeting of GOP governors draws challengers, not Gibbons (3 Comments)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Oscar loves forcing developers to sign labor peace agreements, Culinary loves the city's downtown plans and all is forgiven (5 Comments)
Now and Then
Underdog is open on a post pattern
Calendar »
- 27 Fri
- 28 Sat
- 29 Sun
- 30 Mon
- 1 Tue
-
Bill Cosby at Treasure Island
Treasure Island Theatre
-
The Las Vegas Locomotives vs. the Florida Tuskers
Sam Boyd Stadium
-
Papa Roach at the House of Blues
House of Blues | 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Tuff-N-Uff at the Orleans
Mardi Gras Room | 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
David Spade at the Venetian
The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati










