Monthly Archives: May 2022
17/05/22 Local 40-Year CASA Volunteer Selected As National CASA/GAL Association’s 2022 G.F. Bettineski Child Advocate of the Year Award
She calls herself a “CASA for life;” that’s one of the reasons local CASA Volunteer Carolyn Muscari was selected for the prestigious National CASA/GAL Association’s 2022 G.F. Bettineski Child Advocate of the Year Award. The announcement came in a letter to Carolyn that states: “The CASA/GAL movement is only possible through committed volunteer advocates like you, and we are pleased to recognize your commitment and dedication.”
The 40-year CASA volunteer will be presented with the award at the National CASA/GAL Awards of Excellence ceremony during the National CASA/GAL Association’s 40th anniversary conference. In addition, a $20,000 grant award will be provided to Eighth Judicial District Court-CASA Program for program-wide professional development for the benefit of all staff and volunteers of the program.
“We are incredibly proud to have our District Court CASA program volunteer Carolyn Muscari selected for this prestigious award,” said District Court Chief Judge Linda Marie Bell. “During her 40 years of advocacy, she has had a tremendous positive impact on the lives of so many children. She also inspires others and strengthens the CASA program through her work as a peer coordinator and efforts to bring in new volunteers.”
The CASA program, which is part of the Family Division of the Eighth Judicial District Court, recruits, screens, trains and supports volunteers to represent the best interests of foster children in Clark County. The advocates represent the children in school, child and family team meetings, and in court.
“Carolyn is truly Nevada’s treasure, a heroine of four decades to the children who need to be heard by those deciding their best interests,” said Presiding Family Court Judge Rebecca Burton. “With great admiration, we offer congratulations to Carolyn!”
“The National CASA/GAL Association for Children is celebrating its 40 Year Anniversary and I can’t think of a more appropriate way to celebrate than with the recognition of our own Carolyn Muscari as the National CASA/GAL Volunteer of the Year,” said Family Court Judge Frank Sullivan, who presides over the CASA program. “National CASA/GAL has over 93,000 dedicated volunteers and none more deserving of the Volunteer of the Year Award than Carolyn, who has served as a Clark County CASA for over 40 years. Over the past 40 years, Carolyn has improved the well-being of countless children in the Child Welfare System by helping them reach permanent homes through her tireless “best-interest” advocacy on their behalf. As promoted in the CASA/GAL National Campaign to Change a Child’s Story, Carolyn has truly changed her CASA children’s stories by making a life-changing difference in each child’s life by providing brighter futures for them, which in turn, has made our Clark County community stronger. Carolyn is the epitome of what a CASA is and what a CASA should be, and I’m truly professionally and personally honored and privileged to have served with Carolyn in her capacity as a CASA for over the past 20 years. Congratulations Carolyn on your well-deserved “40 on 40” recognition as National CASA/GAL Volunteer of the Year!”
For more information about the CASA program call 702-455-CASA, or visit www.casalasvegas.org.
Tags: Carolyn Muscari, CASA ClarkCounty, CASA Las Vegas, CASA volunteer, CASA; Las Vegas; Family Court; kids; Foster kids;, Frank Sullivan, Judge Frank Sullivan, Judge Linda Marie Bell, Judge Rebecca Burton, Linda Marie Bell, National CASA/GAL Association’s 2022 G.F. Bettineski Child Advocate of the Year Award, Rebecca Burton, Volunteer Las Vegas
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13/05/22 Judge William Voy announces his retirement after 24 years serving in the Family Division of District Court
Judge William Voy has committed his career to serving the youth of Clark County. He was appointed by the governor of the State of Nevada to the Eighth Judicial District Court in 1998. For the first five years, Judge Voy heard domestic matters related primarily to divorce, custody and child-support. He also presided over the Adult Mental Health Civil Commitment Court. In 2003, he was selected to preside over the juvenile delinquency court. His communications style and life-experiences made the assignment a perfect fit. In 2005, Judge Voy established the nation’s first specialty court for sexually exploited youth. In addition, he implemented the state’s first juvenile diversion court and mental health court, as well as oversaw the implementation of Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) that reduced average daily population in detention by 50 percent. As a result, Judge Voy developed the first Probation 24/7 Intensive Supervision Unit in the country.
Judge Voy has been a key figure in Keeping Kids in School Summits hosted by the Eighth Judicial District Court, the Nevada State Public Charter School Authority and the Clark County School District. The summits have been held over many years to bring those involved in education, justice and youth services together to cover techniques to improve student success and graduation rates. Judge William Voy also oversaw the Truancy Diversion Program (TDP) an effective, non-punitive, incentive-based approach to re-engage at-risk students with truancy problems to prevent and reduce youth crime.
“Judge Voy has dedicated many years to turning the lives around of youth facing the justice system in our community,” said District Court Chief Judge Linda Marie Bell. “We wish Judge Voy well in all his future endeavors.” In a letter to the governor and chief justice of the Nevada Supreme Court announcing his retirement, Judge Voy wrote, “For the last twenty-four years, it has been my great privilege and honor to serve the families and citizens of Clark County and the State of Nevada. I look forward to being able to continue to serve the families and citizens of Nevada in the future.” His retirement is effective May 31 of this year.
“Striving to find good in the youth who appeared before him, Judge Voy has been an innovative leader in creating programs to provide structure and help, rather than punishment, where appropriate to guide children to better choices and a better life. Judge Voy will be greatly missed by his colleagues, community partners and the families he has assisted,” said Presiding Family Division Judge Rebecca Burton. “As the judicial officer who married my husband and I, Judge Voy holds an extra special place in my heart.”
Prior to being appointed to the District Court bench, Judge Voy spent 10 years in private practice in Las Vegas and also served as a captain in the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Office, stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Judge Voy received his law degree from Willamette University in Salem Oregon in 1986.
Tags: Clark County Courts, Eighth Judicial District Court, Judge William Voy, juvenile justice in Las Vegas, Las Vegas Court, Nevada Court, Nevada Eighth Judicial District Court, Truancy Diversion Program Clark County, truancy prevention, William Voy
10/05/22 New District Court Administrative Order 22-08 Covers Deposition Behavior
New District Court Administrative Order 22-08 gives attorneys clear information on Deposition Behavior: http://www.clarkcountycourts.us/general/court-rules-and-administrative-orders/#Administrative%20Orders
The 23-page Order also includes information on what is not acceptable in Discovery including gamesmanship: “There is no room for gamesmanship in the discovery process. It is antithetical to the purpose of discovery and unethical. Manipulation of the discovery rules frustrates the entire process, “because one of ‘[t]he purpose[s] of discovery is to remove surprise from trial preparation so the parties can obtain evidence necessary to evaluate and resolve their dispute.”
Attorneys should read the entire administrative order to be ready to ace disposition behavior http://www.clarkcountycourts.us/general/court-rules-and-administrative-orders/#Administrative%20Orders
Tags: Administrative Order 22-08, EJDC AO 22-08, Judge Linda Bell, Judge Linda Marie Bell, New Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada Administrative Orders
02/05/22 District Court Administrative Order 22-07 updates court operations related to COVID 19
New Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada Administrative Order 22-07 updates court operations related to COVID 19. The Oder is posted on the court website:
Court Rules and Administrative Orders
Tags: Administrative Order 22-07, Court Coronavirus response, Court response to COVID-19, Judge Linda Bell
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