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

PO Box 100

Austin, NV 89310

Phone: (775) 964–2380

Fax: (775) 964–2327

Beatty Township Justice Court

Nye County

426 C Avenue South

PO 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

PO 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

PO 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

PO 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

PO Box 218

Minden, NV 89423

Phone: (775) 782–9955

Fax: (775) 782–9947

Eastline Justice Court

Elko County

1111 North Gene L. Jones Way

PO 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

PO 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

PO 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

PO Box 496

Eureka, NV 89316

Phone: (775) 237–5540

Fax: (775) 237–6016

Goodsprings Township Justice Court

Clark County

23120 Las Vegas Boulevard

PO 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

PO 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

PO 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

PO 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

PO 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

PO 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

PO 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

PO Box 7169

Stateline, NV 89449

Phone: (775) 586–7200

Fax: (775) 586–7203

Tonopah Township Justice Court

Nye County

101 Radar Road

PO 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

PO 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

PO 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

PO 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

PO Box 297

Wells, NV 89835

Email: jpwells@elkocountynv.net

Phone: (775) 752–3726

Fax: (775) 752–3363