Tag Archives: Family Court
June 7, 2022 District Court Truancy Diversion program seeking volunteer professionals to light the way for student success
The pandemic disrupted school attendance habits and the Truancy Diversion Program (TDP) goal is to help get students back on track. Attorneys, mental health professionals, law enforcement officers and other professionals are invited to step up as truancy diversion volunteer judges to bring up graduation rates in Clark County. TDP volunteers are asked to commit one morning each week to preside over a weekly session at an assigned Clark County School District (CCSD) or Charter school. Wearing a judicial robe, the TDP volunteer judge, an educational liaison and a family advocate meet with students and their families, if possible, to address each student’s attendance record, behavioral issues and barriers to regular school attendance. The volunteers along with the educational liaison, also facilitate solutions, and motivate students to attend class and complete assignments.
Those with additional questions or who want to volunteer, can contact the Truancy Diversion Program through email TDP@clarkcountycourts.us or call 702-455-1755.
The program is overseen by District Court Judge Margaret Pickard in collaboration with the CCSD. “Our Truancy Diversion Program volunteers motivate kids who may not otherwise have anyone else in their life to fill that role,” said Judge Pickard. “The volunteer judges have a tremendous positive influence and mentor young people struggling with school attendance towards a brighter future with promise. Having that kind of impact is incredibly rewarding.”
Skipping school, cutting, ditching, or as it is officially known – truancy, is considered by many as a gateway to dropping out of school and criminal activity. The Truancy Diversion Program (TDP) gets kids in school and on track to graduate, so they can take steps to achieve career success.
The TDP, administered by the Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada, was established by Judge Gerald Hardcastle in 2002. Volunteering for the Truancy Diversion Program is a rewarding way to make our community stronger through helping our youth achieve the skills they need to have successful careers. The volunteer judge imparts formality to the student meetings while also providing access to an approachable authority figure who helps to solve obstacles and motivate. The interaction between the TDP judge and family provides participants with enhanced social skills, a sense of empowerment, and an increased appreciation for the value of education.
A training session planned to give volunteer judges the tips and tools they need to motivate students to achieve. TDP volunteers must be at least 21 and able to pass a background check. The total time commitment is approximately 2.5 hours per week for the duration of the school year.
Tags: Clark County Courts, Clark County Graduation rates, Eighth Judicial District Court, Family Court, family court judges, Judge Margaret Pickard, Las Vegas Court, Las Vegas courts, Las Vegas truancy prevention, Margaret Pickard, Nevada Court, Nevada Eighth Judicial District Court, Truancy prevention in Clark County, Truancy prevention in Las Vegas
April 15, 2021 Family Law Self-Help Center helps self represented litigants help themselves
The Family Law Self-Help Center, located in the Family Court at 601 N. Pecos Ave, is currently offering remote services Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and in-person services by appointment on Fridays, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those hours will continue until the end of April. On May 1, the Self-Help Center will reopen to in-person services daily; although, those seeking self-help services are encouraged to continue to contact the Family Law Self-Help Center remotely when possible. Phone and online chat options are available as a convenient way to get information.
Family Law Self-Help Center and DV Protection Order Information Phone: (702) 455-1500
Online Chat is available at http://www.familylawselfhelpcenter.org – click the red “start chat” button.
General Email: flshcinfo@lacsn.org
Domestic Violence Email: tpo@lacsn.org Call: 702-455-1500 (press 2)
Book an in person appointment. Our days and hours are listed on our signup site https://v2.waitwhile.com/welcome/familylawselfhe
Open your camera app and point your camera at this code:
Your smartphone will open a link to our booking site, or you can go to it direct at: https://v2.waitwhile.com/welcome/familylawselfhe
Tags: Clark county Court Cases during coronavirus, Clark County Courts Coronavirus, Clark County Family Court, Clark County Family Court COVID1_19 response, Clark County Family Law, Court response to COVID-19, Courts Coronavirus, Family Court, Free Legal Help, Las Vegas Courts coronavirus hours, Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, Legal Aid Clark County, Legal Aid Las Vegas, legal tips
August 24, 2019 Special event for child support awareness month clears path for resolving child support issues for hundreds of families
District Court Family Division Judge Linda Marquis quashed 131 warrants at an annual child support super Saturday event on Aug. 10. In recognition of child support awareness month, the Clark County District Attorney’s Family Support Division (DAFS) coordinated the event to improve engagement and relationships with those involved with the child support program and to handle outstanding child support issues favorably.
More than 850 people attended the event to take advantage of a variety of child support related services presented in a one-stop-shop format.
- 131 bench warrants were quashed with reduced fees paid
- 150 driver’s licenses were reinstated with child support payment
- 97 customers attended the ask-a-lawyer sessions
- 60 customers were served at the order modification workshop
- 20 customers received services from DAFS social workers
- 11 customers were referred to the Access/Visitation Mediation Program
- $62,825 in past due child support was collected
- 428 staff-donated backpacks filled with school supplies were given to parents and their children
Quashing warrants and eliminating other barriers associated with unpaid child support is believed to be an effective way to help those struggling to meet child support obligation to get on track.
Tags: Clark County Child Support, Family Court, Judge Linda Marquis, Nevada Eighth Judicial District Court, NVEJDC
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- Posted under Clark County Child Support, Uncategorized
September 14, 2017 School Truancy, dropout and youth crime to be tackled at National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges School-Justice Partnership summit
The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) School-Justice Partnership Summit will be held on Sept.15 from 8 a. m. to 3 p.m. at Family Court Campus/Child Haven, 701 North Pecos, Las Vegas, Red Rock Training Room – 701 Building K2. The focus of the Summit will be developing effective methods to reduce school truancy and juvenile delinquency rates in Clark County. Effective programming for schools, school/police diversion programs, positive school climate, restorative practices, early warning systems, trauma informed classrooms and judicially led school justice partnerships will be the priorities of the day.
Truancy and school dropout are viewed as a gateway to crime and a lifetime of challenges. The Clark County School District is the fifth largest school district in the U.S., serving more than 300,000 students at 358 schools. The district reports alarmingly high dropout and teen pregnancy rates. “Everyday we see teens in court who started out skipping school and progressively go down the path to serious crime,” said Juvenile Court Judge William Voy. “This summit is a way to discuss best-practices that work to address the growing crisis of pathways to criminal activity with our community youth.”
Those who have been working this issue in the trenches will share their knowledge including: Judge Steven Teske, Clayton County, Georgia will present proven strategies used in Georgia to reduce truancy rates and the impact on referrals to the juvenile justice system including: Kevin Bethel, Retired Deputy Police Commissioner, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, currently of Center for Children’s Law and Policy; Theresa Bohannan, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and Kori Hamilton, Educational Specialist, National School Climate Center.
A panel discussion of Las Vegas leaders will discuss the efforts of community agencies to reduce truancy rates and juvenile court referrals with community leaders including: District Court Judge William Voy; Assemblyman Tyrone Thompson; Dr. Tammy Malich, Asst. Superintendent CCSD; Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick and Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani.
The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges is the nation’s oldest judicial membership organization and focused on improving the effectiveness of our nation’s juvenile and family courts. A leader in continuing education opportunities, research, and policy development in the field of juvenile and family justice, the 2,000-member organization is unique in providing practice-based resources to jurisdictions and communities nationwide.
Tags: Assemblyman Tyrone Thompson; Dr. Tammy Malich, Asst. Superintendent CCSD; Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick and Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, Eighth Judicial District Court, Family Court, Judge Steven Teske, Judge William Voy, Kevin Bethel, Kori Hamilton, Theresa Bohannan, truancy prevention
June 21, 2017 Kids get most important person in the world back in their lives
Children from three families will now have the most important person in the world back in their lives, after two mothers and one father recently graduated from the Eighth Judicial District mothers’/fathers’ specialty court. All three completed a rigorous in-patient treatment program, that involved spending between six and 12 months in the WestCare treatment facility learning a new way of life.
The graduation was attended by Judge Jennifer Elliot who presides over the Dependency Mothers’ Drug Court, the treatment providers, specialty court staff and fellow specialty court participants. The fellow drug court participants got to see how successful recovery looks. They got to witness someone in a situation much like their own, turn their life around, have their children in their lives in a meaningful way, and leave drugs and crime behind.
When judges enter a courtroom, all rise as a sign of respect. Judge Elliot and the courtroom gallery all rise when participants graduate from the mothers’/fathers’ specialty court. The children of the graduates now have the person who loves them, the way only a parent can, back in their lives making them dinner, helping with homework, giving them love, and being part of their dreams. Their families and our community are better for it.
Since 1992, the Eighth Judicial District Court has been responding to the emerging social issues of addiction and mental health by establishing specialty courts. Each day, the court handles cases on the many crimes committed by people addicted to illegal drugs or suffering from mental illness. The Dependency Mothers’ Drug Court is a partnership between Nevada’s Division of Child and Family Services, Clark County Department of Family Services, Clark County Specialty Courts and WestCare of Southern Nevada. Components that make the program work are early intervention services, coordinated clinical assessment, coordinated case management, program referral, residential treatment services including reunification services, parenting skills education, outpatient support services, staff training support and client transportation.
Tags: Dependency Mothers’ Drug Court, Family Court, Judge Jennifer Elliot, Las Vegas crime, Las Vegas Speciality Courts, recovery; LasVegas; drug court; specialty court, Specialty Courts
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- Posted under Dependency Mothers’ Drug Court, Uncategorized
January 11, 2017 Local students face-off in mock-trials before Family Court Judges in lead-up to regional competition
EJDC Judges Rebecca Burton, Frank Sullivan and Cynthia Giuliani volunteered their time and experience to preside over mock trial competition.
Local high school students faced-off in an intense mock trial competition before actual District Court Judges Rebecca Burton, Cynthia Giuliani and Frank Sullivan. The judges volunteered their time and experience to preside over the competition. They gave the young legal eagles some valuable, real-world insight in round-one of mock trial competitions that lead up to a regional challenge.
The District Court Family Division hosted the Fourth Annual Faith Lutheran Mock Trial Competition on Jan. 7. Six teams totaling almost 50 students participated. The 27 students that earned highest scores will make up the Faith Lutheran Mock Trial teams that will move on to the regional competition on Feb. 11 at the Regional Justice Center.
Tags: Clark County Education, Eighth Judicial District Court, Faith Lutheran Mock Trial, Family Court, Judge Cynthia Giuliani, Judge Frank Sullivan, Judge Rebecca Burton, Las Vegas Education, Las Vegas Mock trials
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- Posted under EJDC outreach, Uncategorized
November 10, 2016 Competition fierce at Chili Wars
Competition was fierce at the first ever Chili Wars to benefit the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada. Attorney Jason Stoffel took first place with his secret chili recipe called Yodalicious. Second place went to The Rabid Beans by Frank Preuss the department J marshal. The runner-up came from the Red Hot Chili Preppers submitted by Lorien Cole. The honor of people’s choice went to The Rabid Beans. It was a perfect night for the outdoor event that included delicious food and music. Word is, the competition will heat up even more next time around. Thanks to all who entered, attended and helped to make this event a success.
Tags: Chili Wars Las Vegas, Family Court, Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada
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- Posted under Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada
October 31, 2016 Memory of a lifetime
Twenty-two children got the memory of a lifetime as their adoption dreams were granted today by District Court Family Division Judge Cynthia Giuliani. Eleven families got a special treat when the judge dressed as a fairy godmother for the special adoptions. The kids showed up for their big day dressed in costume and received treats and a teddy bear. The adoption process can be intimidating for young children. Judge Giuliani has performed the special adoptions for five years around Halloween to make the process fun for the kids and to raise awareness of the need for adoptive families.
Tags: adoption, Fairy Godmother Judge, Family Court, Judge Cynthia Giuliani, Judge Fairy Godmohter
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- Posted under Uncategorized
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