Columnist Sandra Thompson: Family Court sits high on Legislature's agenda

FAMILY COURT reform may be one of the first issues to be tackled by the 1999 Legislature.

Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, expects the recommendations of her Subcommittee to Study Family Courts to be discussed the second or third week of February.

Among the major recommendations are:

* Rotating District Court judges to and from Family Court on a voluntary basis;

* Establishing a strong chief judge;

* Adding five Clark County Family Court judges;

* Amending the Eighth Judicial District Court rules to require the judge to set a date for a mandatory settlement conference when the parties appear in court to set a trial date; and

* Establishing for Family Court judges a bench book of standardized court procedures.

According to the subcommittee's report, attorneys and litigants who testified at last year's hearings agreed that "some problems with procedures in Family Court do not require that new procedures be created, but instead require only that judges, attorneys and litigants consistently comply with and follow the existing rules of procedure."

In addition to the subcommittee's recommendations, Buckley plans to offer another bill draft based on suggestions she received after the hearings ended.

Because there are several ports of entry into the Family Court system, multiple judges may be assigned to a case involving the same child. Buckley's proposal would be a variation of the one-family, one-judge concept that would require the same judge to oversee all actions involving the same child.

She also is proposing that a trial date be set as soon as a case is filed. Deadlines move cases more quickly, she says.

Buckley says the concern in the Legislature about Family Court issues is "widespread."

"It won't be a subject that's forgotten," she says. "It (attention) will depend on the court's position publicly and behind the scenes."

Officials have been painting an austere financial picture for the 1999 legislative session, and there's concern that lack of funds may hurt reform efforts.

Adding a Family Court judge, for example, would cost the state $100,000. The county would pick up the additional tab for the judge's staff and office space.

Buckley acknowledges the state may be short of money, but says that by April, financial projections could change. The cost of implementing these reforms would not have a significant impact on the budget.

Despite the widespread problems in Family Court, Buckley has seen some improvement.

She says the court "got a real wake-up call" from media attention and the subcommittee hearings.

She sees the new self-help legal center as a "tremendous improvement." People who can't afford an attorney and who must represent themselves in court will have a place to get legal forms and legal information.

"That catapults us way beyond where we were," Buckley says.

She credits Family Court Presiding Judge Gloria Sanchez with contributing to positive change.

But Buckley is also quick to point out the importance of the Family Court itself initiating reforms.

The message should be clear, she says. If the court doesn't, the Legislature will and the judges may not like it.

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