Las Vegas officials said the decision could face legal
challenges from critics of the new policy.
In a 6-1 vote, the Las Vegas City Council approved the
ordinance Wednesday in response to a recent state Supreme Court ruling that
requires defendants in such cases to be afforded the option of a jury trial.
Councilman Cedric Crear voted against the plan.
The high court ruled a month ago that defendants were
entitled to a trial after deeming the offense no longer “petty” but a “serious”
one because of a 2015 state law that banned convicted individuals from
possessing firearms.
Officials in Las Vegas have lamented that the city’s
municipal court is ill-equipped to hold trials because it does not have jury
boxes or administration, plus there are not enough city prosecutors or judges,
nor a means to summon a jury pool. In addition, state
law doesn’t allow for jury trials in municipal courts.
Other cities in Nevada face similar burdens. Henderson
unanimously passed a similar ordinance Tuesday, while North Las Vegas passed its ordinance
Wednesday night in a 3-1 vote. Councilman Isaac Barron cast the lone vote
against the measure but did not explain his opposition. Councilwoman Pamela
Goynes-Brown was not present for the vote.
“Without this solution, battery domestic violence that
happens in this city cannot and will not be prosecuted, and victims will be
left with limited criminal legal resource,” North Las Vegas City Attorney
Micaela Moore told council members.
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