Editorial: Explore merging of area courts

Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000 | 9:25 a.m.

Consolidation of local government services has proven to be successful in many areas: policing, water supply, flood control and mass transportation. Taxpayers not only benefit through cost savings, they also see a more efficient delivery of services.

On Wednesday the Las Vegas City Council is expected to address whether or not it will continue to explore the possibility of consolidation in another area -- merging the Las Vegas Municipal Court and Clark County Justice Court systems. In addition to efficiency and lower costs, advocates of court consolidation believe it could result in more consistent decisions. But as the Sun's Bill Gang reported Friday, despite judicial support for consolidation, the city no longer seems receptive to consolidation. In fact, Gang reports, the Las Vegas City Council is on the verge of rejecting a proposal for a one-year review to study the feasibility of merging the local courts.

As it works now, both Municipal Court and Justice Court handle misdemeanor and traffic cases, with Justice Court hearing cases from unincorporated areas of Clark County and Municipal Court handling those within Las Vegas city limits. Where the two court systems differ, though, is that Justice Court also hears felony cases in their preliminary stages, some minor civil matters and small claims. Consolidation probably would result in the elimination of Municipal Court.

It appears one of the sticking points is the city's view that Justice Court doesn't treat prostitution as seriously as Municipal Court judges, a charge Justice Court officials deny. Meanwhile, among his concerns, City Councilman Gary Reese doesn't believe there would be cost savings under consolidation. It is understandable that the city may be reluctant to approve consolidation, especially since it might mean the abolishment of Municipal Court, but it would be a mistake not to give it a fair hearing.

One of the ironies is that the city traditionally has supported government consolidation while the county has opposed such efforts. Yet in the past year the city and county have engaged in role reversals. Last year, for instance, the city was looking into the possibility of seceding from the city-county Metro Police Department, creating its own police department instead. Fortunately the city ultimately decided against this plan.

If a rigorous analysis of the issue ultimately determines that a consolidation wouldn't improve the delivery of justice, then that would be a different matter. But to dismiss the promising potential of consolidation, before it even is reviewed, just doesn't make any sense. The City Council should instead approve a one-year study to see if merging our local courts would be beneficial.