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Justice James W. Hardesty graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in 1970. While an undergraduate student, Justice Hardesty was elected President of the student body and named outstanding senior graduate. Justice Hardesty graduated from the University of Pacific McGeorge School of Law in 1975 and immediately returned to the Reno/Sparks area to enter private practice. He remained in private practice from 1975 to 1998. He received the highest rating of AV by Martindale-Hubbell, a nationally recognized publication of lawyer ratings.
In November 1998, Justice Hardesty was elected District Court Judge for the Second Judicial District of Washoe County, Reno, Nevada. In November 2001, he was elected by his fellow judges to serve as Chief Judge of the Second Judicial District Court, a position to which he was re-elected in November 2003. Justice Hardesty also served as President of the Nevada District Judges Association in 2003.
During his tenure as Second Judicial District Court Chief Judge, Justice Hardesty declined a workload reduction to offset his administrative responsibilities and implemented the following: early case resolution in criminal matters, thus reducing incarceration costs and delayed dockets; an expanded and strengthened drug diversion court and other specialty courts; the re-invigoration of bench/bar committees; the promulgation of “strong Chief Judge” rules; and efforts to create a cohesive court structure through workload assessments and cross-jurisdictional assignments. Justice Hardesty also assumed responsibility for the judicial budget, which included 19 judicial officers and approximately 170 employees, and spoke for the court in the community, developing a rapport with other agencies and stakeholders, such as the limited jurisdiction courts, law enforcement, parole and probation, and the county’s elected and managerial leadership teams that improved the administration of justice in Washoe County.
In November 2004, Justice Hardesty was elected to the Nevada Supreme Court and was re-elected to the Court without opposition in 2010 and 2016. He served as Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court in 2009, 2015, and 2021. In June 2013, Justice Hardesty was unanimously nominated by his colleagues on the Supreme Court for the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence, a nomination that was also supported by the Chief Judges for the Second and Eighth Judicial District Courts. In 2014, he led the Nevada Supreme Court’s educational effort to amend the Nevada Constitution to create a Court of Appeals, which the voters approved in the November election. Nevada’s Court of Appeals commenced on January 5, 2015. Justice Hardesty has been a guest lecturer on case management, settlement and evidence for the National Judicial College, State Bar of Nevada, Professional Education Systems, Inc., the Association of Defense Counsel and the Nevada Justice Association. In addition, he has presented annual lectures to the Media Law students at the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism, University of Nevada, and Reno.
As a District Court Judge and as a Nevada Supreme Court Justice, he has served on various Supreme Court Commissions including: the Nevada Supreme Court Task Force to create a Business Court in Nevada; the Nevada Supreme Court Task Force studying the Multi-Jurisdictional Practice of Law; the Nevada Supreme Court Commission on Judicial Funding; the Nevada Supreme Court Committee to Implement Recommendations of the Jury Improvement Commission; the Commission on Statewide Juvenile Justice Reform; and the Nevada Supreme Court Bench-Bar Committee. Justice Hardesty currently chairs or co-chairs the Nevada Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission; the Nevada Supreme Court Permanent Guardianship Commission; the Committee to Study Evidence-Based Pretrial Release; the Commission on Statewide Rules of Criminal Procedure; the Commission on Preservation, Access, and Sealing of Court Records; the Commission to Study the Adjudication of Water Law Cases; and the Commission to Study Best Practices for Virtual Advocacy in Nevada’s Courts. He has also chaired the Nevada Legislature’s Advisory Commission on the Administration of Justice; and is the chair of the Nevada Sentencing Commission. Justice Hardesty is a past member of the Nevada State-Federal Judicial Council, serving as chairman from 2009 to 2011 and again from 2014 to 2016.
Justice Hardesty was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. He has been married for 51 years to his wife, Sandy, and together they have two children and five grandchildren. From 1978 through 1991, Justice Hardesty coached Bobby Sox Softball teams that included his daughters. In 1991, his team won the National Fast Pitch Championship. He has been active with the Foster Grandparents Program, served on the Nevada State Board of Education, and is Past President of the Rotary Club of Sparks.
On November 4, 2014, Nevada voters approved the creation of a Court of Appeals by allowing an amendment to Article 6 of the Nevada Constitution. This unique court hears roughly one-third of all cases submitted to the Nevada Supreme Court in a deflective model, where the Supreme Court assigns cases to the three-judge Court of Appeals. This is similar to systems used in other states, including Iowa, Idaho, and Mississippi.
Before 2014, the Supreme Court heard all appeals, including everything from murder convictions to appeals of driver’s license revocations. For decades, the Supreme Court struggled to keep up with its caseload. This was demonstrated by the number of pending cases before the court, which prevented speedy resolution of appeals. The idea for the Court of Appeals was born out of the concern that “justice delayed is justice denied.” The truth of this old adage was painfully apparent when families had to wait for an appeal in a child custody case, or when decisions on proposed ballot initiatives were slowed by the backlog of cases. With the voter-approved Court of Appeals, parties waiting for their appeals to be heard now have their cases resolved more quickly.
Appellate courts resolve cases by published opinion and unpublished order. Opinions become part of the State of Nevada’s case law and can be cited and relied on by lower courts, attorneys and the public. Unpublished orders apply only to the parties involved in the appeal.
The Court of Appeals hears most matters that are not precedent-setting and take less time to prepare. This allows the Nevada Supreme Court to spend more time on the cases that merit published opinions and take more time to prepare.
Source: Supreme Court of Nevada, Court of Appeals
Originally published to Nevada Appellate Court employees intranet and served as a weekly newsfeed to monitor the progress of the building's construction.
Brick-by-brick a new Supreme Court/Court of Appeals building is taking shape in downtown Las Vegas. Activity on the corner of Fourth and Clark began mid-December 2015 with the creation of forms and the installation of the steel mesh to hold up the new structure.
In the first two weeks of 2016, workers have poured the foundation and are building the outside walls. A building footprint now anchors the corner where two months ago was a dirt lot.
The rounded forms to create the window elements and the brick to begin building the outside walls have arrived on the construction site. Workers recently spread out sand in the center foundation in preparation of pouring the floor with concrete.
The walls took shape in less than three days and the window forms are being put in place. Two corners of the new building are complete. Rebar inches upward as workers add new concrete bricks to form the walls.
A total height of 12 feet; that is the amount of progress workers made on making three walls of the new courthouse. The outside-wall window features are taking shape with the keystones now in place around the masonry arches. The second level work should begin next week. Workers placed the scaffolding around the building so they can reach above 12 feet.
The walls continue to inch up toward the roofline on the new courthouse in Las Vegas and refinements to the windows are being made.
Workers reached the second floor as construction on the Las Vegas Courthouse continues at 4th and Clark.
Workers placed the upper bricks for the second floor and added the foundation for the back wall.
Three of the outside walls have reached the top and work on the back wall has started. Also, cuts have been made in the concrete shell to allow the inner building to be constructed.
The back wall is nearly complete and the floor supports have been added to the other three walls. Workers have started on the middle peak that will sit in front of the center dome. An address also has been added to the street: 408 E. Clark Avenue.
Workers placed a gable on the front of the building this week and began work on the underground utilities. Once the pipe and electrical likes are in place, they can move forward with pouring the concrete floor and building the supports for the second floor.
Work continues of building the underground utilities before a new slab is poured. Workers also built up the front gable of the building. So far everything is on schedule.
The internal steel beams are being put in place with roofing being added to the top. As we watched, a truck arrived with the center roofing gables. The first floor utilities are finished and three-quarters of the internal building structure is complete.
Workers placed the support beams for the dome and the second floor support is nearly complete. Inside the lower floor is dark. The elevator shaft stands out in the front of the building. A staircase was added to the rear and the column supports on the outside are standing tall.
The new bulding is now more than 10% complete. It nearly has an entire second floor structure and the workers have begun on the plumbing.
Workers continue to place roofing panels for the gabled roof on the steel frame. The entry-way stairs to the courtoom are now in place.
The concrete pump arrived today to allow workers to spill concrete on the flooring structures of the building. Workers poured concrete on the second floor and prepared the first floor with rebar.
This week we have the first photos of the inside of the building. Pouring of the top floor is complete and columns are going up.
The front columns are nearly complete and walls are going up on the second floor. The fire suppression equipment is being installed and the circular hallway on the first floor has been mapped out.
Stonelayers have begun prepping the building for the outer stone. Scaffolding has been erected along the back wall and the building cornice can be seen on the southeast corner. The upper floor framing is nearly done. Wall framing and the installation of air conditioning has started on the first floor.
Stone started taking shape on the back wall of the building as embellishments were added. The tops of the columns on the front of the building were put in place.
Framing for the walls started to take shape in the past few weeks. The courtoom on the top floor is starting to take shape. More stone elements were added to the front of the building.
A quick glimpse looking toward Clark Avenue gives an idea of the scope of the entryway to the courtroom. Stone cutting eventually becomes placed stone framing the outside windows of the building.
More stone has been added to the building and workers are starting to add the finer elements. The ducting above the courtroom and the chambers is starting to take shape.
Insulation and sheet rock arrived at the building in the morning as workers focused on duct work and placing stone on the east side of the building.
Windows were added to the east side of the building this week. Meanwhile, workers continued to add to the inside systems.
More decorative stonework was revealed this week and sheet rock continues to define the offices.
Opaque windows have been added to the upper floor and work continues on the courtroom. Embellishments have been added to the marble.
New marble elements have been added, the courtroom is taking shape, and plastering is happening on the second floor.
Court of Appeals Judges and Las Vegas AOC staff toured the constuction this week. Much of the plastering of the walls is complete. Workers are testing the elevator. The courtroom is taking shape with acoustical elements are the next step.
Work continues on finishing the drywall and adding elements to the courthouse. Workers expect to add a dome to the building next week. Outside, the marble angles under the roof cornice have been added along with the borders.
Workers started painting the inside walls and concentrated on finishing the courtroom. Outside, the marble elements continue to be placed around the roof.
The Supreme Court seal and county seals have been added to the building. The building name also was added.
A skylight, wood doors, and other fine pieces were added to the building.
The decorative doors have been added to the front entrance and work continues on the courtroom.
Workers are installing the formal entrance to the courtroom, adding skylights, and flying the dome for installation.
A crane hoisted Lady Justice to the top of the dome.
Marble has been added to the front entrance and carpeting covers the floor.
Small details have been added and the furniture is being installed.
Wood elements added to the courtroom and the library.
Panoramic view of the courtroom.
The sidewalk in front of the courthouse is nearly ready. Workers are adding final touches.
The building was recognized by Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman with an Urban Design Award [Press Release].
Fencing and plantings are starting to go up around the building. Office furniture is now in place.
We have seats in the courtroom.
Items donated to the Nevada Supreme Court Law Library by Justice James W. Hardesty.
Appeals are filed with the Office of the Supreme Court Clerk, and remain assigned to the Supreme Court until the Court makes assignments to the Court of Appeals. This push-down model allows the Supreme Court to speed up the appeals process by assigning cases to the Court of Appeals, while retaining those cases that raise questions of first impression or issues of important public policy. This model results in more published opinions establishing guidance on Nevada law, improved decisions in the District Courts, and improved access to the appellate process.
Approximately 700 cases each year are assigned to the three judges on the Court of Appeals. Most of the cases assigned to the Court of Appeals can be resolved by the Court of Appeals with no additional processing. The Supreme Court retains the sole discretion to accept petitions for review from the Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court, and such review will only be granted in extraordinary cases.
In sum, the Court of Appeals has improved access to justice in Nevada by providing for faster resolution of all cases. In addition, the Court of Appeals has allowed for an increase in the number of published opinions in all areas of Nevada law. These published opinions improve decisions made by the District Courts and provide clarity for Nevada’s citizens and businesses.
Source: Supreme Court of Nevada, Court of Appeals
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This information is provided as a courtesy only. The law library shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for direct, indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing of this material. The law librarians are not members of the Nevada State Bar and nothing on this site should be considered as legal advice.