Nevada Statutory Derivation

In 1957, Nevada put its current laws into order, but you can still find older law books online through HeinOnline at the law library. These old books show how laws have changed since the 1860s. If you want to see if a Nevada law came from another place, check its first version, like the 1912 Revised Laws. Sometimes, old laws mention where they got their ideas. Older books might use short forms for words, but newer books explain them more clearly.

The current organization of the Nevada Revised Statutes was adopted and enacted in 1957. Several older code variations have been digitized and are available through HeinOnline, which is accessible onsite at the law library: 

• M.S. Bonnifield & T.W. Healey, Compiled Laws of the State of Nevada of 1861 to 1873 Inclusive (1873) (in two volumes). 
• Dav. E. Bailey & John D. Hammond, The General Statutes of the State of Nevada in Force from 1861 to 1885 Inclusive (1885). 
• Henry C. Cutting, The Compiled Laws of Nevada In Force from 1861 to 1900 Inclusive (1900). 
• James G. Sweeney, et. al,, The Revised Laws of Nevada, vol. 1 sections 1-4827 (1912).
• James G. Sweeney, et. al,, The Revised Laws of Nevada, vol. 2 sections 4828-7634 (1912).
• James G. Sweeney, et. al,, The Revised Laws of Nevada, vol. 3, (1913-1919). 
• Curtis Hilyer, Nevada Compiled Laws (1929). 
• Nevada Compiled Laws (1931-1941). 
• Curtis Hilyer, Nevada Compiled Laws 1929 & Supp. 1931-1941 & 1945 Pocket Part. 
• Nevada Compiled Laws, Supp. (1945).

How to Identify the Origins of a Nevada Statute

To determine if a Nevada statute has origins outside Nevada, follow these steps:

1. Review the Statute in Its Earliest Published Form
   Locate the statute in its earliest available publication. For this example, the earliest publication is the 1912 Revised Laws of Nevada. Here's an excerpt from § 5271 in that publication (screenshot provided via HeinOnline).

   • After the statute's text, look for the "history" section. This section indicates where the statute originated.
   • The Revised Laws also reference the original section number from 1911 (e.g., Section 329), confirming you are examining the correct statute.

   Note: In § 5271, the historical reference only points to related statutes in the Revised Laws. However, § 5272, which later became NRS 17.140, includes a reference to "Kerr, C.C.P., 669."

2. Understand Abbreviations and Cross-References

Legal publications often include a list of abbreviations at the beginning of the book (not shown in this guide). "Kerr, C.C.P., 669" refers to Kerr's California Civil Procedure, specifically Section 669.

3. Access Related Resources

Other titles from Kerr’s series, available onsite through the Law Library’s HeinOnline subscription, include:

• Kerr's Small Codes of California, Civil Code (1923 ed.).
• Kerr's Small Codes of California, Code of Civil Procedure (1923 ed.). 
• Kerr's Small Codes of California, Penal Code (1923 ed.). 
• Kerr's Small Codes of California, Political Code (1923 ed.). 
• Kerr's Small Codes of California, Consolidated Topical Index to All Codes (1923 ed.).

4. Compare with Other Sources

The 1929 Nevada Compiled Laws also provide comparable information. This reference is more explicit, directly identifying origins in the California Code of Civil Procedure. However, the 1929 Nevada Compiled Laws omit Kerr’s name, which is helpful for deeper research in subsequent steps.