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Nevada Eighth Judicial District Court Chief Judge Linda Bell issued Administrative Order 20-06 Administrative Order 20-06 to have all in custody defendants appear by video or in the lower level arraignment court. No defendants will be transpod to a district court courtroom absent extremely extraordinary circumstances. Also, no defendant who is in isolation pursuant to the Detention Services protocol will be brought for any court appearance. Criminal case hearing times will be as designated as outlined in the order that is effective Friday, March 20.
Defense attorneys will have limited ability to discuss things with their clients during court proceedings. Attorney-client conversations will be facilitated if needed; however, attorneys are cautioned that it will be absolutely necessary to prepare clients for guilty pleas, sentencings and probation revocations prior to court.
Attorneys are also encouraged in the order to appear by alternate means. In order to appear by alternate means in a criminal matter, attorneys must e-mail the department at least one judicial day in advance of their appearance and provide the e-mail they intend to use to appear. In case of an emergency that does not allow for one day’s notice, attorneys should contact the department.
Only in custody arraignments, release motions, sentencings, probation revocations, and competency hearings will proceed unless a judge determines a different matter needs hearing. Out of custody matters may be decided by the judge or heard at the discretion of the judge if the matter can be heard entirely by alternate means. Otherwise, out of custody matters will be continued.
All in custody specialty court matters for all Criminal Division specialty courts will be heard together in lower level arraignment court on Friday, March 20, 2020, at noon (12:00 p.m.). All status hearings for out of custody participants will be continued for at least 30 days, unless a judge determines that extraordinary circumstances warrant an appearance by alternative means. No jail or community service sanctions will be imposed for program compliance. This does not prevent an arrest of a participant for a probation violation. Specialty court applications may be submitted; however, no new applicants will be accepted to specialty courts at this time.
All three grand juries will be suspended effective at 5 p.m. on March 19, 2020.
The order shall be reviewed no later than every 30 days and shall continue until modified or rescinded by a subsequent order.
On March 12, 2020, Governor Steve Sisolak declared a state of emergency in Nevada in response to the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
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