On Friday, June 4, 2021, Chief Judge Linda Marie Bell of the Eighth Judicial District Court (EJDC) and Chief Justice James W. Hardesty of the Nevada Supreme Court signed an administrative order in the matter regarding all court operations in response to COVID-19. See Administrative Order 21-04 (AO 21-04) available as a 27-page PDF file to download:
Citing Clark County’s Proposed Local Mitigation and Enforcement Plan, the Nevada Constitution, and Rule 1.30(b) of the Rules of Practice for the EJDC, the order continues the District Court’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. For purposes of clarity and to avoid confusion, AO 21-04 supersedes AO 20-01 through 20-13, 20-16, 20-17, 20-22, 20-23, 20-24, and 21-03. Any portions of those orders that remain in effect are included in Administrative Order 21-04.
Per the order, the court is “committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace” for employees and the public served and orders a variety of precautions in regard to the following topics:
- Safety and Precautions:
- Screening Protocols
- Appearances by Alternative Means
- Mandatory Face Coverings for Those Who are Unvaccinated, in Courtrooms, in Jury Assembly and Other Designated Areas
- Meetings
- Social Distancing
- General Provisions
- Attorney Obligations
- Re-Opening of the Clerk’s Office to In-Person Filing
- Continuances
- Courtesy Copies
- Depositions
- Discover (Civil and Domestic)
- Electronic Service
- Hearings
- Original Signature Requirements
- Proposed Orders
- Rule 16.1 (Civil), 16.2 (Domestic), and 16.205 (Custody) Early Case Conferences
- Settlement Conferences (Civil, Criminal, and Family Divisions)
- Specialty Courts (All Divisions)
- Sealed Documents
- Service of Process
- Summonses and Certified Copies
- Trials
- Writs of Execution and Writs of Garnishments
- Civil Matters:
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Extension of Time Deadlines
- Evictions and Foreclosures
- Response Time for Offers of Judgment
- Rule 16 Conferences
- Subpoenas
- Short Trial Program
- Criminal Matters:
- Certified Copies
- Grand Jury
- Guilty Pleas
- In-Custody Appearances
- Out-of-Custody Appearances
- Domestic Matters:
- Confidential Reports
- Motions
- Guardianship
- Juvenile Dependency Cases
- Adjudicatory Hearings
- Termination of Parental Rights Proceedings
- Adoptions
- Court-Ordered Admissions to Mental Health Facilities
- Child Haven and Parent Visitation
- Timely Filing of Orders
- Juvenile Delinquency Cases
- Signatures on Juvenile Written Admissions
- Probate
- Court Facilities
- Family Court and Services Complex, including
- Family Law Self-Help Center
- Family Mediation Center
- Donna’s House Central
- Court Appointed Special Advocate Program
- Family Court and Services Complex, including
- Regional Justice Center, including
- Civil Law Self-Help Center
Finally, “this order shall be reviewed no later than ever 30 days and shall remain in effect until modified or rescinded by a subsequent order.”
For more information about this and other news from the EJDC, read the blog posts at https://eighthjdcourt.wordpress.com/.