Clark County District Court suspends new jury trials over pandemic

To mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, Clark County District Court has suspended civil and criminal jury trials set to start in the next 30 days and has placed limits on who can enter the courthouse, including people who’ve recently traveled to nations afflicted by COVID-19 cases, those who’ve been ordered to self-quarantine and “persons with unexplained fever, cough or shortness of breath,” court officials announced Friday night. 

Prospective jurors summoned were ordered not to appear, although ongoing trials will continue, officials said in a news release. The order, approved in consultation with the Nevada Supreme Court, follows Gov. Steve Sisolak’s declaration of a state of emergency Thursday, and will run from Monday to April 17.

The order, issued by the 8th Judicial District Court Chief Judge Linda Bell, will be reevaluated within 30 days and can be modified or rescinded by additional orders. 

“Essential” cases will continue to be heard in-person, such as in-custody criminal sentencing hearings, bail motions, probation revocation hearings, criminal arraignments, civil commitment cases, and temporary or extensive restraining orders for domestic incidents. Officials said they’re working on arrangements to hear these “matters by alternative means” but encourage participants to also seek other ways of appearing.   

Guardianship cases will also continue to be heard by the court — with the exception of compliance-related hearings like annual accountings — but the protected persons involved in the cases (who are typically older individuals) were asked to appear by other means.

COVID-19, which has infected over 145,000 people worldwide, claiming over 5,400 lives, is reportedly more lethal for elderly communities. Clark County had 16 total confirmed cases as of Friday. 

Other “essential” cases that will continue to be heard in-person are domestic temporary or extended protection orders, juvenile delinquency matters, abuse and neglect preliminary protective hearings, high-risk protective orders, civil temporary restraining orders and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief hearings, and probate petitions for orders of cremation.

The court will continue accepting filings and will go on managing cases “within the parameters of the order,” officials said. Already scheduled non-essential hearings will be conducted by video or telephone or rescheduled. The court has implemented a call center to assist with scheduling and arranging appearances. Beginning Monday, participants can call 702-455-4472. 

People not allowed to enter the court:

• Those who’ve traveled in the last two weeks to 32 countries designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as high risk, including, China, South Korea, Iran and Italy.

• Those who live in close proximity to someone who’s traveled to “any” foreign country in the last 14 days. 

• Those ordered to self-quarantine by any health professional or agency.

• Those diagnosed with the coronavirus or who’ve been in contact with anyone diagnosed with it within the last two weeks.

• Those with an unexplained fever, cough or shortness of breath. 

Those who meet these parameters will be denied entry by court marshals.