Nevada judges back from leadership conference

Wednesday, May 17, 2000 | 10:24 a.m.

The "Summit 2000" conference, which ended last weekend, marked the first time that judges from every level - municipal and justice courts, district courts and the state Supreme Court - met to discuss successes, programs, mutual problems and concerns.

Chief Justice Bob Rose said Tuesday the session was a big success, with judges working on ways to deal with litigants who represent themselves in court, in cases ranging from minor civil matters to death penalty proceedings.

Rose said that people generally have a right to represent themselves, but such cases usually take more court time than those in which lawyers are involved.

Judges also voted to give themselves a bigger say in how the judiciary operates - previously the exclusive job of the state Supreme Court - by endorsing changes in the Nevada Judicial Council.

"The judges advocated expanding the size and authority of the Nevada Judicial Council to provide wider representation from both rural and urban centers and give it a greater role in policy decisions about the judiciary's operation," Rose said.

While a smaller council has been in place for several years, its authority has been limited to making recommendations to the Supreme Court. The new council would have the final say in many policy matters, but likely would continue to act as an advisory body in others, such as judicial supervision. The final plan will have to be approved by the high court.

The conference was a combined session of the Nevada District Judges Association and the Nevada Judges Association, composed of municipal and justice court judges, plus all Supreme Court justices and court administrators.

Two-thirds of the nearly 150 judges in the state attended the conference, which included educational sessions the judges are required to attend each year.