By Judge Alicia Albritton
Most people only see court on television. They believe judges act like Judge Judy and expect forensic evidence in every trial. In people’s eyes, court is always dramatic! In truth, people who must come to court do not find it exciting or dramatic.
People’s first interactions with municipal court are often due to traffic violations. Traffic safety, whether a minor traffic offense or driving under the influence, is of great concern. The number of injuries and deaths of people riding electric devices has increased 400% in recent years. The court has a responsibility to adjudicate traffic cases in a manner that considers the needs and safety of the community.
Municipal courts handle a myriad of cases affecting the community. Municipal courts are most likely a person’s first and possibly only interaction with the justice system. After Andersen v. Eighth Jud. Dist. Ct., 135 Nev. Adv. Op. 42, 448 P.3d 1120 (2019), it is possible that the first jury a person will serve on will be in a municipal court.
Beyond driving under the influence, and battery constituting domestic violence, municipal courts also handle animal control cases. Henderson Municipal Court hears appeals of dangerous and vicious dog declarations and cases requesting the return of animals impounded due to animal cruelty. These cases can be emotionally charged, as pets are considered family. Animal control cases are an example of deeply personal matters handled while exercising procedural fairness in applying the law.
Municipal courts balance accountability and rehabilitation through alternative treatment courts. Henderson Municipal Court has two (2) alternative treatment courts: A.B.C. Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court, which I preside over. Alternative treatment courts offer participants treatment for underlying issues, such as substance use, mental health conditions, co-occurring disorders, and service-related injuries, while holding them accountable for their actions. Such courts reduce recidivism while upholding the law.
Equally as important as accountability is that every person, accused and victim, deserves the opportunity to be heard and treated with dignity and respect. How the court treats people shapes their thoughts of the justice system. Additionally, the court must be transparent, so people know the court’s decisions are fair, impartial, and rooted in the law; hence, court proceedings are public and open to anyone.
I welcome and encourage all to watch a court calendar. Seeing justice in action reminds people that the decisions made in municipal courts directly impact the community.
About the author
Judge Alicia Albritton has presided over Henderson Municipal Court Department 1 since August 2022. Formally a 16-year Clark County Office of the District Attorney prosecutor, she earned her Juris Doctor from the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce Law Center and undergraduate degree from Utah State University.
About the article
This article was originally published in the Communiqué (Apr. 2026), the official publication of the Clark County Bar Association. See https://clarkcountybar.org/about/member-benefits/communique-2026/communique-apr-2026/.
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