Existing law: (1) divides the State into 11 judicial districts; and (2) sets forth the number of district judges in each judicial district. (NRS 3.010, 3.011-3.0197) The Nevada Constitution authorizes the Legislature to increase or decrease the number of district judges. (Nev. Const. Art. 6, § 5) Section 1 of this bill revises requirements governing the number of district judges in each judicial district whose population is 350,000 or more by setting forth a schedule for increasing the number of district judges in any such judicial district based upon certain increases in the population of the judicial district. If the schedule requires an increase in the number of district judges due to an increased population of a judicial district, section 1 provides that if the Chief Judge of the judicial district submits to the Legislature and the board of county commissioners of each county located within the judicial district an opinion stating that the caseload of the judicial district does not warrant the increase in the number of district judges set forth in the schedule, the number of district judges must not be increased unless the Legislature, by resolution, expressly approves of the increase. Section 2 of this bill increases the number of district judges in the First Judicial District, which includes Carson City and Storey County, from two district judges to three district judges. (NRS 3.010, 3.011) Sections 3 and 4 of this bill increase the number of district judges in the Second Judicial District, which includes Washoe County, by three district judges, one of whom must be a judge of the family court. (NRS 3.010, 3.012, 3.0125) Section 5 of this bill increases the number of district judges in the Sixth Judicial District, which includes Humboldt County, from one district judge to two district judges. (NRS 3.010, 3.016) Sections 6 and 7 of this bill increase the number of district judges in the Eighth Judicial District, which includes Clark County, by eighteen district judges, eight of whom must be judges of the family court. (NRS 3.010, 3.018, 3.0185) Section 8 of this bill increases the number of district judges in the Tenth Judicial District, which includes Churchill County, from one district judge to two district judges. (NRS 3.010, 3.0195) Section 9 of this bill increases the number of district judges in the Eleventh Judicial District, which includes Lander County, Mineral County and Pershing County, from one district judge to two district judges. (NRS 3.010, 3.0197) Section 10 of this bill sets out the timeframe for the election of the additional judges who will take office on January 4, 2027.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3.011, 3.012, 3.0125, 3.016, 3.018, 3.0185, 3.0195, 3.0197
BDR: 3.011, 3.012, 3.0125, 3.016, 3.018, 3.0185, 3.0195, 3.0197