How Does the Nevada Justice Court Work?

Within Nevada’s court structure, Justice Courts are courts of limited jurisdiction over minor criminal and civil matters. There are 40 Justice Courts in the state of Nevada, each court serving one or more townships, excluding municipalities. They are authorized to handle the following cases:

• Civil cases where the sum claimed does not exceed $15,000, including contracts, landlord-tenant disputes, liens lawsuits, land disputes, tax collection suits, and personal property, among others;
• Misdemeanor crimes;
• Domestic violence, workplace harassment, stalking, aggravated stalking, sexual assault protection orders;
• Small claims actions;
• Summary eviction actions;
• Traffic and parking cases, including misdemeanor traffic matters;
• Violations under NRS 484D.680;
• Preliminary examinations in felony crimes and arraignments for gross misdemeanor crimes

The complete jurisdiction of the Justice Courts is established under NRS 4.370. The courts’ small claims jurisdiction covers civil cases not exceeding $10,000 in the amount claimed (NRS 73.010). The Justice Courts are funded by the counties and operate within Nevada’s constitution and statutes.

In the Justice Courts, court procedures for civil cases are regulated by the Nevada Justice Court Rules of Civil Procedure. In contrast, criminal procedures are conducted in line with the Criminal Procedure in NV’s Courts manual. However, the Reno, Las Vegas, and North Las Vegas Justice Courts have additional rules and practices.

As outlined in the Civil Rules of Procedure, civil actions begin when a complaint is filed in a Justice Court for relief. Where the amount is less than $10,000, the individual may file a small claims action. However, to file small claims, the plaintiff must be above 18 years of age, and filing must be done in the township where the plaintiff resides, runs a business, or is employed. Also, before filing a small claims action, the plaintiff must forward a demand letter to the defendant by the US Postal Service using a certified, return receipt to pay the amount claimed within ten days. Upon the expiry of the ten days, the claimant may then file the case in the court and include a copy of the demand letter and signed return receipt. Where the case involves an injury, the plaintiff may file in the township where the injury occurred or when it involves an unfulfilled duty, in the township where the duty is or was to be fulfilled.

When a claim is filed, the clerk issues a summons to be served to the defendant with the complaint. The defendant must then file or e-file an answer to the lawsuit within time limits given by law. In small claims, this time is 20 days. The Rules of Civil Procedure directs the service process, and the types of pleadings allowed, forms of motions, timings, pretrial procedures, possible remedies, and the deposition, discovery, trial, judgment, and post-trial processes/procedures. Nevada law does not affix a predetermined time within which these actions or cases may be resolved in court, but the statutes indicate how long a plaintiff has to file a civil action. This statute of limitations is outlined under NRS 11.010.

The Justice Courts handle misdemeanor crimes, and preliminary hearings for felony and gross misdemeanor crimes to determine if there is sufficient evidence (probable cause) to transfer a case to trial in the District Courts. In the Justice Courts, misdemeanors are punishable by six months in jail, not more than $1,000 (including administrative assessments), or both. Unlike felony and gross misdemeanor crimes, the defendants have no right to counsel unless the sentence involves imprisonment.

Criminal cases begin in the Justice Courts with arraignment hearings. In these hearings, the defendants are informed of the charges and required to enter a plea: guilty or not guilty. Defendants who plead not-guilty are given a date for trial. Misdemeanor defendants have no right to counsel misdemeanor crimes; the defendant also has no right to a jury trial. Trials in the courts are essentially bench trials (trial by judge). As with civil cases, the length of time a criminal case may take to be disposed of by the courts is not specified under the law. Both civil and criminal appeals from the Justice Courts go to the Nevada District Courts.

Cases in the Justice Courts are heard and decided by the Justices of the Peace. In the state, court justices are selected at non-partisan elections from candidates (attorneys) that are qualified electors and have never been removed or retired from any judicial office by the Commission on Judicial Discipline (NRS 4.010). However, where such removal or retirement is pending appeal or has been set aside by the Supreme Court, the candidate is eligible. Still, where the candidate seeks justiceship in a township with a population over 100,000, it is required that the attorney be licensed to practice law in Nevada and have been practicing law for at least five years preceding the election. Elected justices serve 6-year terms, and upon expiry of a term, a justice may run for re-election.

Ordinarily, members of the public can find the Justice Courts dockets and calendars on the official websites of the courts. By entering a case number or party’s name, an individual may obtain case information and the status of cases that were handled by the courts. The online sites and physical addresses of the courts may be obtained from the Find a Court page.

Argenta Township Justice Court
Lander County
50 State Route 305
Battle Mountain, NV 89820
Phone: (775) 635–5151
Fax: (775) 635–0604

Austin Township Justice Court
Lander County
122 Main Street
P.O. Box 100
Austin, NV 89310
Phone: (775) 964–2380
Fax: (775) 964–2327

Beatty Township Justice Court
Nye County
426 C Avenue South
P.O. Box 805
Beatty, NV 89003
Email: bjc@co.nye.nv.us
Phone: (775) 553–2951
Fax: (775) 553–2136

Beowawe Department of the Eureka Township Justice Court
Eureka County
5041 Tenabo Avenue
Crescent Valley, NV 89821
P.O. Box 496
Eureka, NV 89316
Email: justice@eurekanv.org
Phone: (775) 237–5540
Fax: (775) 237–6016

Boulder Township Justice Court
Clark County
501 Avenue G
Boulder City, NV 89005
Email: BoulderCityJCPR@ClarkCountyNV.gov
Phone: (702) 455–8000
Fax: (702) 455–8003

Bunkerville Township Justice Court
Clark County
190 East Virgin Street
P.O. Box 7185
Bunkerville, NV 89007
Email: BunkervilleJC@ClarkCountyNV.gov
Phone: (702) 346–5711
Fax: (702) 346–7212

Canal Township Justice Court
Lyon County
565 East Main Street
Fernley, NV 89408
Phone: (775) 575–3355
Fax: (775) 575–3359

Carlin Township Justice Court
Elko County
101 South 8th Street
P.O. Box 789
Carlin, NV 89822
Email: carlincourts@elkocountynv.net
Phone: (775) 754–6321
Fax: (775) 754–6893

Carson City Justice Court
Carson City County
885 East Musser Street
Suite 2007
Carson City, NV 89701
Email: justicecourtclerk@carson.org
Phone: (775) 887–2121
Fax: (775) 887–2297

Dayton Township Justice Court
Lyon County
235 Main Street
Dayton, NV 89403
Email: djc@lyon-county.org
Phone: (775) 246–6233
Fax: (775) 246–6203

East Fork Township Justice Court
Douglas County
1038 Buckeye Road
P.O. Box 218
Minden, NV 89423
Phone: (775) 782–9955
Fax: (775) 782–9947

Eastline Justice Court
Elko County
1111 North Gene L. Jones Way
P.O. Box 2300
West Wendover, NV 89883
Email: EastlineJusticeCourt@ElkoCountyNV.net
Phone: (775) 664–2305
Fax: (775) 664–2979

Elko Township Justice Court
Elko County
571 Idaho Street
P.O. Box 176
Elko, NV 89801
Email: elkojc@elkocountynv.net
Phone: (775) 738–8403
Fax: (775) 738–8416

Ely Township Justice Court
White Pine County
801 Clark Street
Suite 6
Ely, NV 89301
Phone: (775) 293–6540
Fax: (775) 289–3392

Esmeralda Township Justice Court
Esmeralda County
403 Crook Street
P.O. Box 370
Goldfield, NV 89013
Email: jp@esmeraldacountynv.org
Phone: (775) 485–6359
Fax: (775) 485–3462

Eureka Township Justice Court
Eureka County
701 South Main Street
P.O. Box 496
Eureka, NV 89316
Phone: (775) 237–5540
Fax: (775) 237–6016

Goodsprings Township Justice Court
Clark County
23120 Las Vegas Boulevard
P.O. Box 19155
Jean, NV 89019
Email: GoodspringsJCPR@ClarkCountyNV.gov
Phone: (702) 874–1405
Fax: (702) 874–1612

Hawthorne Township Justice Court
Mineral County
166 East Street
P.O. Box 1660
Hawthorne, NV 89415
Phone: (775) 945–3859
Fax: (775) 945–0700

Henderson Township Justice Court
Clark County
243 Water Street
Henderson, NV 89015
Email: hendersonjc@ClarkCountyNV.gov
Phone: (702) 455–7951
Fax: (775) 455–7977

Incline Village Township Justice Court
Washoe County
865 Tahoe Boulevard
Suite 301
Incline Village, NV 89451
Email: IJCinfo@washoecounty.us
Phone: (775) 832–4100
Fax: (775) 832–4162

Lake Township Justice Court
Pershing County
400 Main Street
P.O. Box 8
Lovelock, NV 89419
Phone: (775) 273–2753
Fax: (775) 273–0416

Las Vegas Township Justice Court
Clark County
200 Lewis Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone: (702) 671–3116
Fax: (702) 671–2512

Laughlin Township Justice Court
Clark County
101 Civic Way
Suite 2
Laughlin, NV 89029
Email: LaughlinJCPR@ClarkCountyNV.gov
Phone: (702) 298–4622
Fax: (702) 298–7508

Meadow Valley Township Justice Court
Lincoln County
1 Main Street
P.O. Box 36
Pioche, NV 89043
Phone: (775) 962–8059
Fax: (775) 962–5559

Mesquite Township Justice Court
Clark County
500 Hillside Drive
Mesquite, NV 89027
Email: MesquiteJCPR@ClarkCountyNV.gov
Phone: (702) 346–5298
Fax: (702) 346–7319

Moapa Township Justice Court
Clark County
1340 East Highway 168
Moapa, NV 89025
Email: moapajusticecourt@ClarkCountyNV.gov
Phone: (702) 864–2333
Fax: (702) 864–2585

Moapa Valley Township Justice Court
Clark County
320 North Moapa Valley Boulevard
Moapa Valley, NV 89040
P.O. Box 337
Overton, NV 89040
Email: MoapaValleyJCPR@ClarkCountyNV.gov
Phone: (702) 397–2840
Fax: (702) 397–2842

New River Township Justice Court
Churchill County
71 North Maine Street
Fallon, NV 89406
Email: justicecourt@churchillcounty.org
Phone: (775) 423–2845
Fax: (775) 423–0472

North Las Vegas Justice Court
Clark County
2428 North Martin Luther King Boulevard
North Las Vegas, NV 89032
Email: northlvjusticecourt@ClarkCountyNV.gov
Phone: (702) 455–7801

Pahranagat Valley Township Justice Court
Lincoln County
121 Joshua Tree Street
P.O. Box 449
Alamo, NV 89001
Phone: (775) 962–8082
Fax: (775) 725–3566

Pahrump Township Justice Court
Nye County
1520 East Basin Avenue
Suite 104
Pahrump, NV 89060
Email: PJC@PahrumpJusticeCourt.com
Phone: (775) 751–7050
Fax: (775) 751–7059

Reno Township Justice Court
Washoe County
1 South Sierra Street
Reno, NV 89501
Email: rjcweb@washoecounty.us
Phone: (775) 325–6500
Fax: (775) 325–6510

Searchlight Township Justice Court
Clark County
1090 Cottonwood Cove Road
P.O. Box 815
Searchlight, NV 89046
Email: SearchlightJCPR@ClarkCountyNV.gov
Phone: (702) 297–1252
Fax: (702) 297–1022

Sparks Township Justice Court
Washoe County
1675 East Prater Way
Suite 107
Sparks, NV 89434
Phone: (775) 353–7600
Fax: (775) 352–3004

Tahoe Township Justice Court
Douglas County
175 Highway 50
P.O. Box 7169
Stateline, NV 89449
Phone: (775) 586–7200
Fax: (775) 586–7203

Tonopah Township Justice Court
Nye County
101 Radar Road
P.O. Box 1151
Tonopah, NV 89049
Email: tjc@co.nye.nv.us
Phone: (775) 482–8155
Fax: (775) 482–7349

Union Township Justice Court
Humbolt County
50 West Fifth Street
P.O. Box 1218
Winnemucca, NV 89445
Email: Justice@hcnv.us
Phone: (775) 623–6377
Fax: (775) 623–6439

Virginia Township Justice Court
Storey County
26 South B Street
P.O. Box 674
Virginia City, NV 89440
Email: jp@storeycounty.org
Phone: (775) 847–0962
Fax: (775) 847–0915

Wadsworth Township Justice Court
Washoe County
390 West Main Street
P.O. Box 68
Wadsworth, NV 89442
Phone: (775) 575–4585
Fax: (775) 575–0253

Walker River Township Justice Court
Lyon County
911 Harvey Way
Suite 2
Yerington, NV 89447
Email: wrjc@lyon-county.org
Phone: (775) 463–6639
Fax: (775) 463–6638

Wells Township Justice Court
Elko County
1510 Lake Avenue
Wells, NV 89825
P.O. Box 297
Wells, NV 89835
Email: jpwells@elkocountynv.net
Phone: (775) 752–3726
Fax: (775) 752–3363