Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 4 - Justice Courts
NRS 4.020 - Number and election of justices of the peace.


1. There must be one justice court in each of the townships of the State, for which there must be elected by the qualified electors of the township at least one justice of the peace. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, the number of justices of the peace in a township must be increased according to the population of the township, as certified by the Governor in even-numbered years pursuant to NRS 360.285, in accordance with and not to exceed the following schedule:
(a) In a county whose population is 700,000 or more:
(1) In a township whose population is less than 1,100,000, one justice of the peace for each 100,000 population of the township, or fraction thereof, until the township has four justices of the peace, and thereafter, one justice of the peace for each 125,000 population of the township, or fraction thereof, over a population of 300,000; and
(2) In a township whose population is 1,100,000 or more, one justice of the peace for each 100,000 population of the township, or fraction thereof, up to a population of 1,100,000, and thereafter, one justice of the peace for each 125,000 population of the township, or fraction thereof, over a population of 1,100,000.
(b) In a county whose population is 100,000 or more and less than 700,000, one justice of the peace for each 50,000 population of the township, or fraction thereof.
(c) In a county whose population is less than 100,000, one justice of the peace for each 50,000 population of the township, or fraction thereof.
(d) If a township includes a city created by the consolidation of a city and county into one municipal government, one justice of the peace for each 30,000 population of the township, or fraction thereof.
2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, if the schedule set forth in subsection 1 provides for an increase in the number of justices of the peace in a township, the new justice or justices of the peace must be elected at the next ensuing biennial election.
3. If the schedule set forth in subsection 1 provides for an increase in the number of justices of the peace in a township and a majority of the justices of the peace in that township, in consultation with the board of county commissioners, determine that the caseload does not warrant an additional justice of the peace, the justices of the peace shall notify the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau and the board of county commissioners of their opinion on or before March 15 of the even-numbered year in which the population of the township provides for such an increase. The Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau shall submit the opinion to the next regular session of the Legislature for its consideration. If the justices of the peace transmit such a notice to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau and the board of county commissioners, the number of justices must not be increased during that period unless the Legislature, by resolution, expressly approves the increase.
4. Justices of the peace shall receive certificates of election from the boards of county commissioners of their respective counties.
5. The clerk of the board of county commissioners shall, within 10 days after the election or appointment and qualification of any justice of the peace, certify under seal to the Secretary of State the election or appointment and qualification of the justice of the peace. The certificate must be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State as evidence of the official character of that officer.
[Part 1:108:1866; B § 2599; BH § 1636; C § 1782; RL § 2765; NCL § 4765] + [Part 9:108:1866; B § 2607; BH § 1644; C § 1790; RL § 2773; NCL § 4773] + [Part 18:108:1866; B § 2616; BH § 1653; C § 1799; RL § 2782; NCL § 4782] + [Part 30:108:1866; B § 2628; BH § 1665; C § 1811; RL § 2794; NCL § 4794] + [Part 31:108:1866; B § 2629; BH § 1666; C § 1812; RL § 2795; NCL § 4795] + [Part 32:19:1865; B § 937; BH § 2451; C § 2532; RL § 4852; NCL § 8394]—(NRS A 1965, 1221; 1973, 281, 1723; 1975, 1120; 1977, 677; 1979, 498, 1334; 1983, 437; 1991, 327; 1995, 1962; 1997, 3062; 2011, 721, 1134; 2019, 3948)

Structure Nevada Revised Statutes

Nevada Revised Statutes

Chapter 4 - Justice Courts

NRS 4.010 - Qualifications of justice of the peace.

NRS 4.020 - Number and election of justices of the peace.

NRS 4.025 - Terms of justices of the peace.

NRS 4.030 - Oath and bond of justice of the peace.

NRS 4.032 - Justices of the peace pro tempore.

NRS 4.033 - Senior justices of the peace.

NRS 4.035 - Courses of instruction for justices of the peace; payment of costs.

NRS 4.036 - Attendance required at courses of instruction; penalty for unexcused absence; exception.

NRS 4.040 - Salaries and compensation of justices of the peace.

NRS 4.050 - Claims and expenses.

NRS 4.060 - Fees for justice of the peace; disposition; special account for justice court; report to board of county commissioners.

NRS 4.063 - Additional fees: Imposition; disposition of proceeds for support of programs for dispute resolution.

NRS 4.065 - Additional fees: Imposition; disposition of proceeds.

NRS 4.071 - Additional fees to offset costs of providing pro bono programs and free legal services to certain victims.

NRS 4.073 - Additional fees to offset costs of operating law library.

NRS 4.075 - Additional fees in certain smaller counties: Imposition; disposition of proceeds.

NRS 4.080 - Justice of the peace to charge only fees authorized by law.

NRS 4.090 - Justice of the peace to keep record of fees charged.

NRS 4.100 - Monthly financial statements.

NRS 4.120 - Punishment for taking excessive fees.

NRS 4.130 - Table of fees to be posted.

NRS 4.140 - Fees payable in advance; execution for fees due.

NRS 4.150 - Vacancy in office; duty of clerk of board of county commissioners.

NRS 4.155 - Townships with more than one justice of the peace.

NRS 4.157 - Chief justice of the peace in certain townships: Selection; duties.

NRS 4.160 - Number of justices of the peace where townships altered.

NRS 4.170 - Duties of justices of the peace.

NRS 4.175 - Report of certain statistical information to be submitted to Court Administrator.

NRS 4.180 - Power to take and certify acknowledgments and affidavits.

NRS 4.185 - Use of facsimile signature: Conditions and restrictions.

NRS 4.190 - Power to administer oaths or affirmations.

NRS 4.215 - Justices of the peace in certain townships not to practice law.

NRS 4.220 - Unlawful to purchase judgments.

NRS 4.230 - Docket entries.

NRS 4.235 - Ruling that provision of Nevada Constitution or Nevada Revised Statutes is unconstitutional: Prevailing party to provide copy of ruling to Attorney General.

NRS 4.240 - Entries in docket prima facie evidence of facts.

NRS 4.260 - Court records; disposition upon expiration of term.

NRS 4.270 - Disposition of court records in case of vacancy.

NRS 4.280 - Jurisdiction of justice of the peace with whom docket is deposited.

NRS 4.290 - Successor defined.

NRS 4.300 - Designation of succeeding justice of the peace.

NRS 4.310 - Justice of the peace may issue subpoenas and final process to any part of county.

NRS 4.320 - Blanks must be filled in all papers issued by justice of the peace, except subpoenas.

NRS 4.340 - Temporary assistance for justice of the peace: Requirements; compensation and travel expenses.

NRS 4.345 - Disqualification of justice of the peace in certain counties: Substitution of municipal judge.

NRS 4.350 - Deputy clerk: Appointment; compensation; powers and duties.

NRS 4.353 - Deputy marshal: Appointment; duties; qualifications; compensation.

NRS 4.355 - Referee: Conditions for appointment; qualifications; powers and duties; decisions; compensation. [Effective through December 31, 2022.] Referee: Conditions for appointment; qualifications; powers and duties; decisions; compensation. [Effe...

NRS 4.357 - Master: Conditions for appointment; qualifications; duties; compensation.

NRS 4.360 - Denomination of court; court always open; where held.

NRS 4.365 - Small claims: Supplies and postage; duties of boards of county commissioners.

NRS 4.370 - Jurisdiction. [Effective through June 30, 2022.] Jurisdiction. [Effective July 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022.] Jurisdiction. [Effective January 1, 2023.]

NRS 4.371 - Effect of transfer of original jurisdiction from district court to justice court.

NRS 4.3713 - Transfer of original jurisdiction of criminal case to another justice court or municipal court.

NRS 4.3715 - Transfer of original jurisdiction of criminal case to district court.

NRS 4.372 - Administration of program of supervision for persons with suspended sentences or persons sentenced to residential confinement.

NRS 4.373 - Suspension of sentence; conditions of suspension; reduction of sentence; arrest for violation of condition of suspension.

NRS 4.374 - Determination if defendant is veteran or member of military; alternative program of treatment.

NRS 4.375 - Power to order restitution for embezzled property.

NRS 4.3755 - Restitution paid by defendant convicted of misdemeanor: Collection; disbursement.

NRS 4.376 - "Residential confinement" defined.

NRS 4.3762 - Power to order; conditions of sentence; maximum term; arrest for violation of condition.

NRS 4.3764 - Establishment and modification of terms and conditions.

NRS 4.3766 - Violation of terms and conditions.

NRS 4.390 - Required for certain proceedings.

NRS 4.400 - Operation of equipment; transcription of recordings; use of transcript.

NRS 4.410 - Compensation for preparing transcript.

NRS 4.420 - Preservation; destruction.