Nevada Supreme Court Rule Changes (ADKTs)
ADKT 0610: On April 4, 2023, Nathan Tod Young, District Judge, and Thomas Gregory, District Judge, Ninth Judicial District Court filed a petition in the Nevada Supreme Court seeking to amend Rule 4 of the Rules of Practice for the Ninth Judicial District Court. On May 16, 2023, the Court issued an order adopting the proposed amendments to Rule 4 of the Rules of Practice for the Ninth Judicial District Court as set forth in Exhibit A of the order. The amendments shall be effective 60 days from the date of the order.
ADKT 0607: On January 24, 2023, Ann Zimmerman, Justice of the Peace, Las Vegas Township Justice Court, on behalf of the Nevada Judges of Limited Jurisdiction, filed a petition in the Nevada Supreme Court seeking to amend the Nevada Justice Court Rules of Civil Procedure. On May 12, 2023, the Court issued an order that the proposed amendments to the Nevada Justice Court Rules of Civil Procedure be adopted as set forth in Exhibit A of the order. The amendments shall be effective 60 days from the date of the order.
ADKT 0126: On May 4, 2023, the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order appointing attorney David R. Gordon to the attorney panel of arbitrators after an investigation by the State Bar of Nevada of the applicant’s qualifications and fitness to serve as an arbitrator. The applicant has completed the arbitrator orientation and training program mandated by NAR 7 (C) and will be included in a list of active members of the panel of arbitrators after being sworn or affirmed as provided in NAR 7 and submitting his oath to the arbitration commissioner for the judicial district where he will serve as an arbitrator.
ADKT 0171: On May 4, 2023, the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order appointing Dawn Nielson to the Functional Equivalency Committee for a three-year term commencing in October 2023 and expiring in October 2026. The term of Jeffrey R. Rodefer expires in October 2023, and he is not seeking reappointment to the Functional Equivalency Committee. The Court also issued an order reappointing Richard M. Trachok, II, as Chair; Lynn S. Fulstone as Vice Chair, and the Honorable Jennifer Togliatti as a member of the Board of Bar Examiners to three-year terms expiring in October 2026.
ADKT 0542: After a public hearing held on May 3, 2023 to consider whether a critical labor shortage exists within the Marshal Division of the Eighth Judicial District Court, the Court determined that (a) the turnover rate percentage has worsened over the last several years; (b) as of February 2023, there are five vacancies; (c) the average length of vacancy is 80.4 days; (d) the Marshal Division continues to struggle with recruiting a sufficient number of qualified applicants to meet staffing needs. On May 4, 2023, the Court issued an order that the employment of retired public employees to fill the marshal positions is warranted, based upon the appropriate and necessary delivery of services to the public.
ADKT 0582: On May 19, 2021, the Supreme Court established the Commission to Study the Statutes and Rules of the Commission on Judicial Discipline and update, as necessary, the Nevada Code of Judicial Conduct. Under the chairmanship of Justice Ron Parraguirre and the vice chairmanship of Justice James W. Hardesty (ret.), the Commission was tasked with studying and making recommendations concerning the procedural and substantive statutes and rules of the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline. The Commission’s final recommendations were filed with the Court on April 19, 2023. As the Commission has completed the task with which it was initially charged, the Court issued an order closing the Commission on May 4, 2023.
ADKT 0606: On November 8, 2022, James T. Russell, District Judge, and James E. Wilson, District Judge, First Judicial District Court, filed a petition in the Nevada Supreme Court seeking to amend the Rules of Practice for the First Judicial District Court. On April 24, 2023, the Court published an order approving the proposed amendments as set forth in Exhibit A. The amendments are effective 60 days from the date of this order.
ADKT 0594: Pursuant to the Nevada Rules on the Administrative Docket, and in response to requests to review the current processes for the licensing of attorneys within Nevada, on March 9, 2022, the Nevada Supreme Court created the Bar Licensing Commission to study the issues and concerns arising from the methodology and administration of the bar examination and licensing procedures for attorneys within Nevada. In its report, filed on March 30, 2023, the Commission recommended the appointment of two task forces. The Court agreed with the Commission’s recommendations and issued an order on April 19, 2023 appointing the Foundational Subject Requirement and Performance Test Implementation Task Force and the Supervised Practice Task Force. The individuals listed in Exhibit A of the order are appointed as members of the Foundational Subject Requirement and Performance Test Implementation Task Force. The individuals listed in Exhibit B are appointed to the Supervised Practice Task Force. Each Task Force shall file a report with the Court on their findings and recommendations no later than April 1, 2024.
ADKT 0609: On March 22, 2023, Lidia S. Stiglich, Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court, and Lynne K. Simons, Chief Judge of the Second Judicial District, petitioned the Nevada Supreme Court to amend SCR 214 to provide an attorney legislator serving in the Nevada Legislature an exemption from the annual requirement to complete 10 hours of general continuing legal education credit for the compliance period in which the attorney serves in a regular Session of the Legislature. On April 14, 2023, after a public hearing held on April 11, 2023, the Court issued an order that the proposed amendments to SCR 214 be adopted as set forth in Exhibit A of the order. The amendments shall be effective 30 days from the date of the order. For calendar year 2023, a written request for an exemption must be postmarked or delivered to the State Bar of Nevada no later than 30 days from the effective date of this rule amendment. Thereafter, such written exemption must be postmarked or delivered to the State Bar of Nevada on or before March 1 as provided in the rule. Publication of this order shall be accomplished by the clerk disseminating copies of this order to all subscribers of the advance sheets of the Nevada Reports and all persons and agencies listed in NRS 2.345, and to the executive director of the State Bar of Nevada.
ADKT 0610: On April 4, 2023, the Ninth Judicial District Court, by and through the Honorable Nathan Tod Young and the Honorable Thomas W. Gregory, filed a petition with the Nevada Supreme Court to amend Rule 4 Arbitration of the Rules of Practice for the Ninth Judicial District Court as set forth in Appendix A of the order. The Ninth Judicial District has adopted the Nevada Arbitration Rules as provided in Nevada Arbitration Rule l, which provides in part, “Judicial Districts having a lesser population may adopt local rules implementing all of part of the program.” Effective January 1, 2023, the Nevada Supreme amended the Nevada Arbitration Rules. The Ninth Judicial District desires to adopt the amendments except for specifically excluding “NAR 20(a)(2) Any claim or defense not raised by either party through presentation of expert testimony or other competent evidence at the arbitration hearing will be waived at the trial de novo.”
ADKT 0580: On August 13, 2021, the Nevada Supreme Court created the Commission on Nevada Rules of Appellate Procedure to consider and make recommendations for comprehensive amendments to the Rules. On March 29, 2023, the court issued an order appointing Erica C. Medley and Jessica E. Whelan to the commission.
ADKT 0126: On March 22, 2023, the Supreme Court issued an order appointing attorney Christopher K. Beckstrom to the attorney panel of arbitrators after an investigation by the State Bar of Nevada of the applicant’s qualifications and fitness to serve as an arbitrator. The applicant has completed the arbitrator orientation and training program mandated by NAR 7 (C) and will be included in a list of active members of the panel of arbitrators after being sworn or affirmed as provided in NAR 7 and submitting his oath to the arbitration commissioner for the judicial district where he will serve as an arbitrator.
ADKT 0464: On February 24, 2023, the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Nevada filed a petition with this court providing a list of prospective mentors who have been determined by the State Bar to meet the requirements of the Transitioning Into Practice (TIP) Program for newly-admitted attorneys. The following individuals are appointed to serve as mentors in the TIP program: Jordan Smith, Tina Talim, Christian Miles, and Cassandra Cummings.
ADKT 608: On February 15, 2023, the Nevada Supreme Court received a petition from the State Bar of Nevada’s Board of Governors seeking to amend the Supreme Court Rules (SCRs) related to attorney misconduct. The proposed changes can be viewed in detail in Exhibit A attached to the petition. A public hearing will be conducted on the petition on March 21, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. in the Supreme Court courtroom in Las Vegas. The hearing will be videoconferenced to the courtroom in Carson City. Written comments are invited and may be submitted electronically or in hard-copy format to Elizabeth A. Brown, Clerk of the Supreme Court, 201 South Carson St., Carson City, NV 89701 or via email at nvscclerk@nvcourts.nv.gov by 5:00 p.m., March 14, 2023.
ADKT 0576: On March 9, 2021, the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order creating a Commission to Study the Adjudication of Water Law Cases in Nevada’s Courts. A report of the Commission’s recommendations was filed by the court on December 27, 2022. On January 23, 2023, the court issued an order rescheduling the public hearing on this matter for March 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in the Supreme Court courtroom, 408 East Clark Avenue, in Las Vegas, which will be videoconferenced to the courtroom in Carson City. Written comments may be submitted electronically or in hard-copy format to Elizabeth A. Brown, Clerk of the Supreme Court, 201 South Carson Street, Carson City, Nevada 89701 by 5:00 p.m., March 14, 2023 or via email at nvscclerk@nvcourts.nv.gov. Persons interested in participating in the hearing must notify the Clerk no later than March 14, 2023.
ADKT 0581: On August 13, 2021, the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order creating the Commission to Study Best Practices for Virtual Advocacy to evaluate applicable rules to govern the unified use of remote technology in Nevada’s general and limited jurisdiction courts and consider possible rule changes necessary for handling criminal, civil and family courts. On January 19, 2023, the court issued an order appointing Justice Patricia Lee to the commission.
ADKT 0576: On February 8, 2021, James W. Hardesty, then Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court, filed a petition requesting that the Nevada Supreme Court consider creating a Commission to Study the Adjudication of Water Law Cases in Nevada’s Courts. The order creating the Commission was filed on March 9, 2021 and a report of the Commission’s recommendations was filed on December 27, 2022. A public hearing will be conducted on the report on February 8, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. in the Supreme Court courtroom in Las Vegas. The hearing will be videoconferenced to the courtroom in Carson City. Written comments are invited and may be submitted electronically or in hard-copy format to Elizabeth A. Brown, Clerk of the Supreme Court, 201 South Carson St., Carson City, NV 89701 or via email at nvscclerk@nvcourts.nv.gov by 5:00 p.m., January 24, 2023.
ADKT 0605: On December 23, 2022, the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order adopting local rules of practice for the North Las Vegas Justice Court regarding traffic offenses and citations. The rules can be found in Exhibit A attached to the order. The rules become effective February 22, 2023.
ADKT 599: On October 6, 2022, the Nevada Supreme Court conducted a public hearing to consider amendments to Supreme Court Rules (SCRs) 51.1 and Addendum 2 related to the certification of functional equivalency, regarding admission to the practice of law. On December 8, 2022, the court issued an order denying the petition, returning the matter to the Board of Bar Examiners and the state bar’s Board of Governors to consider possible amendments based on written comments submitted at the hearing.
ADKT 604: On Sept. 23, 2022, the Nevada Supreme Court received a petition from the justices of the peace of the Las Vegas Justice Court requesting to establish rules relating to traffic offenses and citations to comply with AB 116 from the 2021 Nevada Legislature. On December 8, 2022, the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order adopting the proposed rules; they become effective February 6, 2023.
ADKT 0537: On December 8, 2022, the Nevada Supreme Court filed an order modifying the composition of the Commission on Access to Justice. The appointments, which are effective immediately, can be found in Exhibit A attached to the order.
ADKTS 602 and 603: On August 30, 2022, the Nevada Supreme Court filed two petitions from the Las Vegas Township Justice Court, proposing amendments to, and enactment of a new rule, regarding the eviction process. ADKT 602 proposes changes to the Las Vegas Justice Court Local Rules of Practice 6.2 and 6.4, and the addition of new rule 6.8. ADKT 603 proposes changes to the Nevada Supreme Court’s Eviction Mediation Rules. On September 29, the court issued an order rescheduling the public hearing on these matters to December 7, 2022 at 2 p.m. in the Supreme Court courtroom in Las Vegas, which will be videoconferenced to the courtroom in Carson City. Written comments are invited and must be submitted to Elizabeth A. Brown, Clerk of the Supreme Court, 201 S. Carson St., Carson City, NV 89701; on Dec. 1, the court issued an order extending the deadline for written comments to Dec. 19, 2022, at 5 p.m. Comments may be submitted via email to nvscclerk@nvcourts.nv.gov.
ADKT 0568: On Nov. 23, 2022, the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order determining that a critical labor shortage exists within the Marshal’s Office of the Nevada Supreme Court. The order states that the employment of retired public employees is warranted to address this shortage.
ADKT 0581: On August 13, 2021, the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order creating a Commission to Study Best Practices in Virtual Advocacy in Nevada’s Courts, to evaluate applicable rules to govern the unified use of remote technology in Nevada’s general and limited jurisdiction courts, and consider possible rule changes necessary for handling criminal, civil, and family courts. On December 23, 2021, the court issued an order appointing members to the commission. A correction to the order was issued on Sept. 13, 2021. On November 15, 2022, the court issued an order appointing Christopher Long to replace Craig Franden on the commission.
ADKT 0537: On Nov. 10, 2022, the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order adjusting the minimum rates for IOLTA accounts from 0.65 percent to 0.75 percent; leadership institutions’ minimum rate is now 0.8 percent. The order is effective from December 1, 2022, until June 1, 2023.
ADKT 0595: On Oct. 24, 2022, the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order adopting amendments to the Rules Governing Alternative Dispute Resolutions and to the Nevada Short Trial Rules. The amendments become effective January 1, 2023. The amendments can be found in exhibits A and B attached to the order.
ADKT 0598: On Oct. 24, 2022, the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order adopting Rules of Conduct for Lawyers Representing Children in Child Welfare Cases. The rules become effective January 1, 2023 and can be found in Exhibit A attached to the order.
ADKT 0567: On Oct. 26, 2022, the Nevada Supreme Court appointed attorney Julie Skow to be a mediator for the Designated Eviction Proceedings Program.
ADKT 601: On August 17, 2022, the Nevada Supreme Court received a petition requesting the court consider amending the Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure to include a rule regarding the placement of dependent children in a qualified residential treatment program. On Sept. 27, 2022, the court issued an order adopting the new rule as Rule 27 of the District Court Rules. The adoption of Rule 27 becomes effective Nov. 1, 2022 and shall expire on Jan. 1, 2024, or upon the effective date of any superseding legislation, whichever comes first.
ADKT 0600: On Sept. 12, 2022, the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order denying a petition received from the justices of the peace at Pahrump Justice Court to amend the local court rules to add a new rule, Rule 52, regarding the selection and duties of chief judge, and the duties of the court administrator. The proposed language for Rule 52 can be found in Exhibit A attached to the order.
ADKT 0593: On August 24, 2022, the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order amending Administrative Order (AO) 0001 from the Las Vegas Township Justice Court, delineating the duties and training for hearing master positions within that court. The amendments can be found in Exhibit A attached to the order.
ADKT 0597: On August 16, 2022, the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order adopting a pilot program related to the unbundling of legal services in enumerated family court case types. The proposed amendments can be found in Exhibit A attached to the order. Also attached are a proposed notice of limited-scope representation (Exhibit B) and a proposed notice of completion of services in limited scope representation (Exhibit C). The pilot program begins Nov. 1, 2022 and is scheduled to expire on Nov. 1, 2024.
Rule changes will be kept on this site for at least six months after effective date.
