By Tony Cook

Tue, Oct 16, 2007 (7:14 a.m.)

Rather than expand hours to nights or weekends, Clark County officials plan to spend $14.7 million on courthouse renovations to make room for six new District Court judges who will take the bench in 2009.

County and court officials have been searching for a solution to the space crunch since this year's legislative session, when state lawmakers created the new judgeships. Although the state pays the judges' salaries, the county must provide facilities.

County commissioners will consider the courthouse makeover today as part of a proposed $142 million allocation for one-time capital projects.

The money would come from a county fund composed of unanticipated revenue and savings from previous years. The rest would go toward expanding Metro Police's communication center; technology and vehicle purchases; buying the county Election Department's warehouse; University Medical Center; streetlamps; and several other areas.

If commissioners approve the $14.7 million courthouse plan, they will have done so without an analysis of whether expanded court hours could make some of that spending unnecessary.

Night and weekend court could eliminate the need for more space. With two shifts, judges could share facilities. Advocates also say night and weekend court are more convenient for users, especially in Family Court, where five of the new judges are being added.

Despite the potential for saving money, the county has not studied expanded hours.

Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, who suggested the idea last summer, said she doesn't think court administrators have taken the idea seriously.

"I don't like being blown off," she said. "Maybe we set this aside and don't appropriate it."

Assistant County Manager Liz Quillin said the county and court officials have started to gather information on how other jurisdictions use expanded hours. But the county has not examined the numbers to determine whether night court makes sense.

"We haven't really had an opportunity to do that," she said.

Many judges and attorneys don't like the idea because it would mean working nontraditional hours.

"The private bar, they aren't going to do it," Quillin said.

However, it has worked in other places. In Phoenix, for example, Maricopa Superior Court holds Family and Juvenile Court until 9 p.m. It also has full-day Saturday sessions. In the place of judges, commissioners - attorneys appointed by the presiding judge to hear select cases - preside over night court in Phoenix.

Maricopa County officials say judges have found an easy way to deal with attorneys who don't want to work after 5 p.m. - asking their clients when they prefer to come to court.

Quillin, however, questioned whether Nevada's political system would accommodate that tactic. Unlike judges in Nevada, those in Arizona are appointed, she said. Because Nevada judges rely on campaign contributions, which come primarily from attorneys, they are unlikely to buck the private bar, she said.

Giunchigliani called that explanation a reach.

"If they can't maintain independence of judgment, that's their problem," she said.

Quillin said the county would continue to look into the possibility of expanded hours.

"That's still on the table," she said. "We're still going to take a look at that."

She also pointed out that the $14.7 million would be only an allocation, not an actual expenditure. Expanded hours still could be explored before that money is spent, she said.

The proposed allocation would include: