WINNEMUCCA - The Nevada Supreme Court recently released their report on rural district court judges' travel for the years 2007 through 2010. In order for people in rural communities to receive quick and reliable access to the judicial system, the judges in those districts do a lot of traveling weekly.
According to the NSC report, the Sixth Judicial District covers 21,179 square miles and includes the counties of Humboldt, Lander and Pershing.
During the four years of the study, mileage traveled by the two district judges steadily increased. The report qualifies some of the increase in mileage was due to Judge Michael Montero coming on as a new judge and was required to attend training as well as cover court proceedings in all three venues.
The report also noted that travel time increased from 38 to 63 workdays over the four-year period and that it represented an increase from 16 to 27 percent to approximate 10.1 hours weekly spent traveling.
In an interview, Montero stated that traveling the 60 or 70 miles to get to the court has the effect of distraction from the case issues. He said that it requires him to either prepare further in advance or after arriving at the remote venue.
"Travel affects the number of cases that can be handled," he stated. Montero reported that judges must also sometimes travel to a remote court just to hear one case. He said, "We go even if it may not be economically feasible."
Montero said that his court reporter, Kathy Brumm, must also go along with him for non-civil cases.
"Tuesdays are travel days," he said. Montero alternates each week between Lovelock and Battle Mountain, and Wagner does the same.
Montero stated that with the different courts there may be different practices where clerks and the district attorney may handle filing differently. He said that he might need files transferred to him or arrange to have them available for review when he arrives at the court.
Montero said that so far, he has not had to stay overnight in the remote venue, even for a trial.
Judge Richard Wagner said of the travel, "It goes with the job. Under the law, we are expected to be circuit judges." He added, "I'm not quite sure why the supreme court is concerned about travel time as opposed to in-court time."
Wagner stated that the judges travel in order to provide adequate coverage in all three court venues. "Each community is entitled to have coverage," he said.
Wagner said that criminal cases are down in number while contested custody and divorce cases are on the rise. He commented that perhaps the economic times are taking a toll in these matters.
Wagner said that his law clerk drives him to and from the remote courts. Wagner uses the travel time to review his cases.
He stated that on average they travel about 1,500 miles per month on court-related business. Wagner reported that he leaves Lovelock by 7 a.m. but that it is not unusual for them to get back to Lovelock 10 to 12 hours later.
When asked about any mishaps on the road over the years, Wagner said that a few years ago he was run off the road and his vehicle rolled. His injuries from the accident still bother him to this day.
Wagner commented about the new video technology installed in the courtrooms. He stated that it was "oversold technology" in that connections must bridge through the supreme court, which often result in poor video and audio quality. He stated that there are some things in court of great importance that are not to be compromised.
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