22-05-2025
Nevada Supreme Court announces plans for dedicated business court
Nevada Supreme Court Chief Justice Doug Herndon. (Photo: Richard Bednarski/Nevada Current)
The chief justice of the Nevada Supreme Court on Thursday announced plans to pursue the creation of a dedicated business court, saying a resolution currently under consideration by the state legislature is not necessary.
Chief Justice Douglas Herndon intends to file a petition next month with the Nevada Supreme Court to approve the creation of a Commission to Study the Adjudication of Business Law, according to a media release. That commission will work out specific details, like how judges will be selected for the business court.
The expectation is that the dedicated business court will be operational 'within a year.'
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Herndon's announcement comes on the heels of Assembly Joint Resolution 8, a proposal to amend the Nevada State Constitution to establish a dedicated business court. That resolution passed the full Assembly last month and needs to pass the full Senate by Friday or be declared dead. Then, AJR8 would have to pass the 2027 Legislature before appearing before voters in the 2028 general election for final approval.
Herndon in a statement said the court has been 'closely following' legislative discussions on AJR8.
'I'm confident that within our own court system we can enhance our existing approach to business law cases and create a dedicated court where district court judges hear only business cases and do it without any additional fiscal impact on the state,' he said. 'In addition, we can address the timeliness and efficiency of judicial review of business cases, eliminate the need to amend the constitution and the uncertainty associated with waiting years to see if the resolution gets approved.'
Democratic Assemblymember Joe Dalia, the sponsor of AJR8, could not be immediately reached for comment Thursday.
