Department VI

Courtroom Protocol

No weapons are allowed. There is no eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in any courtroom.

Proper courtroom attire is required. No shorts or tank tops are allowed in the courtroom, shoes are required. T-shirts, which show offensive slogans or pictures, are not allowed. Hats should be removed before entering the courtroom.

While in the courtroom, sit quietly when court is in session. Do not talk or whisper. The court proceedings are being recorded by a court recorder and noise can interfere with the preparation of this important record.

All beepers, cellular telephones, and electronic devices must be turned off before entering the courtroom. Avoid reading newspapers, or books in the courtrooms, particularly if your use of such material may be a distraction to others.

Attorneys are expected to maintain the highest ethical standards at all times, and to strictly adhere to the opportunities, requirements, limitations, and deadlines set by the judge. All counsel are to be punctual for all conferences, hearings and trials. They are to be civil to one another as well as to all parties, witnesses, and court personnel – whether in front of a jury or the court.

FOR ALL CIVIL AND CRIMINAL MATTERS:

ZOOM

Department 6 REQUIRES attorneys appear in person for ALL matters where substantive argument will occur, for show cause matters and calendar calls. If extreme circumstances exist and an attorney can absolutely not make it to court, please reach out to the JEA, Krystal Jacobs, at JacobsKr@ClarkCountyCourts.us and the Law Clerk at Dept06LC@ClarkCountyCourts.us with the case information and why you cannot be present in person. A zoom link can sometimes be made available upon request. However, we do allow counsel to appear via zoom for most status checks. Please follow the aforementioned instructions to request a zoom link for status checks.

For the reasons mentioned above, Department 6 does NOT have a recurring or static link set up for ZOOM. You will not be able to access any zoom links without permission as Department 6 changes it’s link for every session.

Department 6 will allow visitors to attend our homicide sessions via zoom. Either their attorney or VWAC at the DA’s office can reach out prior for the ZOOM link. Defendants will be required to appear in person in the courtroom at every court proceeding unless prior permission was given by Judge Bluth herself at an earlier proceeding. However, NO exception will be made to this rule for sentencings. Defendant will be present in the courtroom for rendition of sentence.

ZOOM for Trials

Witnesses will be permitted to testify via zoom. Zoom will not be provided for those who wish to “watch” trial. Zoom is only activated for witnesses and counsel will need to request this permission in advance. Please email the JEA, Krystal Jacobs, at Jacobskr@ClarkCountyCourts.us with the information. i.e. Name of witness, their approximate appearance time and a good email for the witness.

Current Assignment

• Department 6 is currently assigned Civil Court and Homicide Court dockets.

Civil Law and Motion Calendar Schedule

• Department 6 hears Civil Court Matters on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. Homicide Court matters are heard on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. (every other Tuesday)
• Mandatory Rule 16 Conferences are held from chambers and an email will be sent to all parties either from the Judge or the Judicial Executive Assistant.  In the event counsel requests that the rule 16 conference be held in person, such accommodations will be made and the matter will be held on our regular Civil Law & Motion Calendar.

Regular Chambers Calendar

• Department 6 does have a chambers calendar.  Matters regularly placed on chambers calendar include: Motions to Amend; Motions to Associate Counsel; Motions to Confirm Arbitration Award; Motions to Withdraw; Motions for Stay; Motions for Reconsideration; Motions to Strike; Status Checks on Minor’s Claims Blocked Accounts; Petitions for Judicial Review; Motion for Clarification and Reconsideration; Motions to Redact/Seal; Motions for Leave; and Pro Hac Vice Applications.

Discovery Commissioner Assigned

• Commissioner Erin Truman

Court Recorder for its Official Record

• 6 uses a Court Recorder.  To request a transcript and/or CD (JAVS) of a hearing, please email the recorder, De’Awna Takas, at TakasD@ClarkCountyCourts.us. She will provide direction and any forms that may be necessary.

Unopposed Motions

• Department 6 does grant unopposed motions in advance.  Counsel should appear for unopposed motions unless they are notified otherwise either by minute order, phone call, or email.

Default Judgment Prove-ups

• All Default Judgments with a principal amount of less than $50,000 may be submitted to DC6inbox@ClarkCountyCourts.us . Default Judgments with a principal of $50,000 or more must be set on the Department’s regular Civil Law & Motion calendar. Counsel will be required to file a Notice of Prove-Up hearing and you will receive a setting in ordinary course. If necessary, special setting accommodations can be made wherein it can be heard on a date different than a regular Civil Law & Motion calendar.

Submission of Orders

• Department 6 requires proposed orders within 10 days of notification of the ruling, pursuant to EDCR 7.21.  Counsel designated to prepared the order is required to provide a draft to opposing counsel(s), allowing for a reasonable opportunity for review and comment.  Non-drafting counsel is not required to sign the order prior to submission.  Disputes may be resolved by submitting competing orders with explanatory letters, copied on all parties, for chambers review. All orders and any accompanying letters should be sent to DC6inbox@ClarkCountyCourts.us .  There is no need to copy any court staff but it is acceptable if you do.

Contested Orders

• In Department 6, when orders are contested, each party must submit a letter, copied to all parties, explaining their position regarding the disputed and proposed orders. The Court will then sign the order it deems appropriate with any necessary revisions.  To reiterate, all orders and competing orders with accompanying letters should be sent to DC6inox@ClarkCountyCourts.us .

Electronic Signatures

• Department 6 will accept any and all orders, stipulations and judgments of any kind with electronic signatures. Wet signatures will also be allowed.

Jury Selection

• Department 6 uses the modified “Arizona Method” of jury selection, requiring voir dire to be directed toward the minimum number of jurors necessary to be qualified, rather than the entire venire.  During her questioning, the Judge will address the entire prospective venire with certain questions.  Additionally, prior to trial whether it be civil or criminal, attorneys will receive an email from the Judicial Executive Assistant with explicit instructions In regards to exhibits, transcript requests and tentative trial schedule. Following her email, an additional email from the Judge, sometimes via the JEA, will also be sent to counsel. This will include additional explicit instructions and an updated tentative schedule for trial and will come closer to the start of trial.