PSC 100 MODULE 4 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are the qualifications to become a state judge at each of the levels within
the judiciary?
Supreme Court(consists of 7 judges, 6 year terms are staggered): Must be a qualified
elector (a non felon), 25 years old, an attorney licences in NV, a 2 year resident, and as
of 2005, they need 15 years legal experience, 2 of which must be in NV.
Court of Appeals(consists of 3 judges 6 year terms are NOT staggered): Same as
Supreme Court
District Court(6 year terms are NOT staggered): Must be a qualified elector (a non
felon), 25 years old, an attorney licences in NV, a 2 year resident, and as of 2005, they
need 10 years legal experience, 2 of which must be in NV.
Justice Court(6 year staggered terms): Must be a qualified elector (a non felon), with a
high school diploma
Municipal Court(4 year staggered terms): Citizen of the state, a resident of the city for 1
year, and a qualified elector (a non felon).
What are the different methods of judicial selection used throughout the United
States? Which does Nevada use?
Gubernatorial appointment: Where the governor makes the appointment.
Legislative appointment:
Partisan elections: Where the party affiliation is listed on the ballot.
Merit plan: also known as the Missouri Plan, because Missouri was the first state to try
, it. More and more states have moved to using the merit plan as a method of selecting
state judges. And it's really a combination of both appointment and election.
What are the terms of office for the various judges in Nevada?
Judges not subject to term limits. They serve as long as they are re-elected.
Identify and describe the methods of judicial removal.
1. Removal by commission on Judicial discipline(1976 amendment): Exists to
investigate allegations of judicial misconduct in office, violations of code of judicial
conduct, or disability of judges.
2. Legislature(article 7): Allows the assembly and senate by a 2/3 vote of the elected
members to remove the judge from the bench.
3. Impeachment(article 7): Can be removed for misdemeanors and malfeasance. The
majority of the assembly must vote with a 2/3 vote to remove.
Can NOT use RECALL
Identify the types of courts within the Nevada judicial system.
These State judicial courts interpret STATE laws.
Justice & Municipal, District, Court of Appeals, & Supreme
Which level was most recently established in Nevada and why is it significant?
Court of Appeals is the most recently added. It's significant because the voters didn't
approve it until 2014. Prior to the establishment of the Court of Appeals, all appeals
from district court went directly to the State Supreme Court. Now the Supreme Court
has a set of discretionary rules that determine if it should go to the Court of Appeals.
Under what circumstances can cases be appealed from state courts to the federal
court system?
Can only appeal to the federal court if a federal issue is involved. Such as a US
constitutional issue. 95% of cases are heard at the state level.
What is jurisdiction and what is the difference between original and appellate
jurisdiction?
What are the qualifications to become a state judge at each of the levels within
the judiciary?
Supreme Court(consists of 7 judges, 6 year terms are staggered): Must be a qualified
elector (a non felon), 25 years old, an attorney licences in NV, a 2 year resident, and as
of 2005, they need 15 years legal experience, 2 of which must be in NV.
Court of Appeals(consists of 3 judges 6 year terms are NOT staggered): Same as
Supreme Court
District Court(6 year terms are NOT staggered): Must be a qualified elector (a non
felon), 25 years old, an attorney licences in NV, a 2 year resident, and as of 2005, they
need 10 years legal experience, 2 of which must be in NV.
Justice Court(6 year staggered terms): Must be a qualified elector (a non felon), with a
high school diploma
Municipal Court(4 year staggered terms): Citizen of the state, a resident of the city for 1
year, and a qualified elector (a non felon).
What are the different methods of judicial selection used throughout the United
States? Which does Nevada use?
Gubernatorial appointment: Where the governor makes the appointment.
Legislative appointment:
Partisan elections: Where the party affiliation is listed on the ballot.
Merit plan: also known as the Missouri Plan, because Missouri was the first state to try
, it. More and more states have moved to using the merit plan as a method of selecting
state judges. And it's really a combination of both appointment and election.
What are the terms of office for the various judges in Nevada?
Judges not subject to term limits. They serve as long as they are re-elected.
Identify and describe the methods of judicial removal.
1. Removal by commission on Judicial discipline(1976 amendment): Exists to
investigate allegations of judicial misconduct in office, violations of code of judicial
conduct, or disability of judges.
2. Legislature(article 7): Allows the assembly and senate by a 2/3 vote of the elected
members to remove the judge from the bench.
3. Impeachment(article 7): Can be removed for misdemeanors and malfeasance. The
majority of the assembly must vote with a 2/3 vote to remove.
Can NOT use RECALL
Identify the types of courts within the Nevada judicial system.
These State judicial courts interpret STATE laws.
Justice & Municipal, District, Court of Appeals, & Supreme
Which level was most recently established in Nevada and why is it significant?
Court of Appeals is the most recently added. It's significant because the voters didn't
approve it until 2014. Prior to the establishment of the Court of Appeals, all appeals
from district court went directly to the State Supreme Court. Now the Supreme Court
has a set of discretionary rules that determine if it should go to the Court of Appeals.
Under what circumstances can cases be appealed from state courts to the federal
court system?
Can only appeal to the federal court if a federal issue is involved. Such as a US
constitutional issue. 95% of cases are heard at the state level.
What is jurisdiction and what is the difference between original and appellate
jurisdiction?
