Department R

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.

Documents

Department R Zoom Information (Effective February 5th 2024)

Submission of Orders

• Parties are to email all Orders requiring Judge Henderson’s signature to DeptRInbox@ClarkCountyCourts.us.
  • The Order must be attached as a .pdf format to the email and you must only submit one attachment per email.
• Department R generally requires prevailing counsel to submit a drafted Order to opposing counsel for review.
  • Department R typically allots opposing counsel five (5) days to review, respond, and return the Order
• Parties may submit competing Orders to Department R if they are unable to resolve any disputes.

Electronic Service

• Administrative Order 20-17 REQUIRES all lawyers and self-represented litigants to register for electronic service on every case they have in the District Court. Please ensure you are registered to receive electronic service at https://nevada.tylertech.cloud/OfsWeb so that you will receive the electronically filed document once processed. Failure to register may cause delays in receiving service.

Service Requirements

• This Court requires all Motions filed by pro per litigants to be personally served upon the other party, unless the receiving party is registered to receive e-service, in which case electronic service will suffice.
  • The parties may utilize a licensed process server or the Sheriff’s Civil Process Section (702-455-5400) for assistance with personal service.
  • Note that the Court has access to verify whether a party was properly e-served.

Remote Appearances

• Parties may appear remotely via the audio-visual program Zoom per EDCR 5.609.
• This Court does not allow remote appearances for Evidentiary Hearings, Trials, or Order to Show Cause hearings unless specifically granted.

Chamber Calendar

• Department R does not utilize a Chamber Calendar session to decide matters without oral argument. All Motions will be set on this Court’s calendar for an oral argument hearing.

Unopposed Motions

• Department R occasionally grants unopposed Motions in advance of the hearing date pursuant to EDCR 2.23(c) and EDCR 2.20(e).
• Orders for unopposed Motions to Withdraw and Motions to Continue can be sent directly to Department R’s inbox at DeptRInbox@ClarkCountyCourts.us. Decrees may be sent directly to Department R’s inbox once a Default has been filed into the case.

Mandatory Mediation

• Department R enforces EDCR 5.306 which requires parties in a contested custody action to attempt mediation at the Family Mediation Center (FMC).
• Parties may submit an Ex Parte Request for Family Mediation Center Services containing information for both parties directly to chambers for an expedited mediation date.

Joint Preliminary Injunctions (JPI)

• Department R does not require a JPI to enforce a Court order.
• EDCR requires the Clerk of the Court to automatically issue a JPI in divorce matters.

Prove-up Hearings

• Department R does not require a hearing to change an adult’s name unless there was a felony conviction.
• Department R does not generally require a hearing to change a juvenile’s name.
• Department R occasionally requires a prove-up hearing for a final custody Order. The Department does not generally require a prove-up hearing wherein a Default was entered into the case and the other party was personally served.
• Department R does not require a prove-up hearing to grant a divorce wherein there are not any minor children within the case and a Default has been entered into the case. The parties may submit the Decree directly to the Department.
• Parties may submit the Order for Change of Name or Decree to DeptRInbox@ClarkCountyCourts.us.

Contested Orders

• Department R will review and approve the Order which most accurately reflects the proceedings.
• Department R will not schedule a telephonic conference for the parties to litigate the proposed competing Orders.
• Per EDCR 5.706(c) the opposing party must submit a competing proposed Order accompanied by a brief explanation of the reason for the disagreement and the distinction between the proposed Orders.
  • The parties must email this explanation to this Court’s Judicial Executive Assistant Mark Fernandez at FernandezM@ClarkCountyCourts.us, with any relevant timestamps included.

Electronic Signatures

• Department R does accept electronic signatures on Stipulations and Orders, Decrees, and Orders from hearings.

Stacking Trails

• Department R does not stack trial dates.

Exhibits

• Exhibits are to be brought to the courtroom on the date and time of Trial/Evidentiary Hearing.
  • You must bring five (5) copies of each exhibit, bound and bate-stamped, to the courtroom.
    • Plaintiff is to title Exhibits numerically (IE: Exhibit 1, Exhibit 2…)
    • Defendant is to title Exhibits alphabetically (IE: Exhibit A, Exhibit B…)
• Exhibits are to be electronically uploaded by emailing FCEvidence@ClarkCountyCourts.us at least five (5) days prior to the Evidentiary Hearing/Trial/Motion date.
• Parties are not to individually file each Exhibit into the case.

Contact Information

• Department R requires parties to ensure their contact information is current. They must electronically file a Notice of Change of Address into their case whenever they change their phone number, email address, or mailing address.

Additional Information

• If you have any inquiries not addressed in this section, you may email this Court’s Judicial Executive Assistant Mark Fernandez at FernandezM@ClarkCountyCourts.us.
  • Please note the Court is unable to provide you legal advice or instruct you how to proceed in a case. You may visit the Family Law Self Help Center at www.FamilyLawSelfHelpCenter.org for assistance.