Elko County Courts

Office Location
571 Idaho Street
(Elko County Courthouse)
Elko, Nevada 89801 

Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed During the Lunch Hour 

Contact
Phone:  775-753-4601
Fax:  775-753-4611

Your job as a juror is to listen to all the evidence presented at trial, then "decide the facts"-- decide what really happened. The judge's job is to "decide the law" -- make decisions on legal issues that come up during the trial. All must do their job well if our system of trial by jury is to work. 


You do not need special knowledge or ability to do your job.  It is enough that you keep an open mind, use common sense, concentrate on the evidence presented, and be fair and honest in your deliberations. 

Remember: Don't be influenced by sympathy or prejudice. It is vital that you be impartial with regard to all testimony and ideas presented at the trial. 

We hope you find your experience as a juror interesting and satisfying. Thanks for your willingness to serve!

---

What is the importance of jury service? 

Jurors perform a vital role in our American system of justice. The protection of our rights and liberties is largely achieved through teamwork between the judge and jury who, working together in a common effort, put into practice the principles of our Constitution and laws. Thus, in this very important way, jurors become a part of the Court itself.

Jury service is a high duty of citizenship. Your greatest reward will be the knowledge that you have discharged this duty faithfully and honorably. In addition to determining and adjusting property rights, jurors may also be asked to decide questions involving a crime for which a person may be confined to prison. In a very real sense, therefore, the people must rely upon jurors for the protection of life, liberty and property.

---

 Can I be excused from a particular trial? 

The court may temporarily excuse a juror from a particular trial on account of:

•      Sickness or physical disability
•      Serious illness or death of a member of his/her immediate family
•      Undue hardship or extreme inconvenience
•      Public necessity

If you are summoned to appear as a juror and believe that you are entitled to be excused for one of the reasons set forth above, please contact the Jury Commissioner at (775) 753-3666.

---

Some Do's and Don'ts of Jury Service

During Trial:
DO arrive on time and DO return promptly after breaks and lunch. 
DO pay close attention. If you cannot hear what is being said, raise your hand and let the judge know. 
DO keep an open mind all through the trial. 
DO listen carefully to the instructions read by the judge. 
DON'T talk about the case, or issues raised by the case with ANYONE (including other jurors) while the trial is going on. 
DON'T talk to the lawyers, parties or witnesses about anything. 
DON'T try to uncover evidence on your own. You must decide the case only on      the basis of evidence admitted in court. 
DON'T let yourself get information about the case from the news media or any other outside source.

During Deliberation:

DO work out differences between yourself and other jurors through complete and fair discussions of the evidence and the judge's instructions. 
DON'T mark or write on exhibits or otherwise change or injure them. 
DON'T draw straws, flip coins or otherwise arrive at your verdict by chance. 
DON'T talk to anyone about your verdict until the judge discharges the jury. No juror can be forced to talk about the case without a court order. After discharge you may discuss the verdict with others, including the media, the lawyers or your family. However, DON'T feel obligated to do so.

---

Will I be reimbursed for travel expenses? 

If the juror, or prospective juror, travels more than 30 miles one way for court, the juror will be reimbursed up to $70.00 per night for a hotel/motel room (you will need a receipt) and 36.5 cents per mile travel allowance. Meals are not reimbursed.

---

How does the juror "point system" work? 

Jurors do not receive credit unless appearing for jury duty. Each juror actually appearing at the Courthouse for jury duty pursuant to a jury summons, but not actually sworn to serve as a juror, will receive a 1 credit of service for their appearance that day.  Any person who has accumulated 2 credits of service shall be removed from the jury pool for the remainder of that year only.

---

How am I chosen for jury service? 

The Jury Commissioner creates and maintains at random, a jury pool of registered voters from which potential jurors may be selected for jury trials. For each week in which at least one jury trial is set, the Jury commissioner will draw at random from that pool the names of jurors to serve as the jury panel for that particular week. If your name is drawn you will receive a summons from the Jury Commissioner in the mail. This summons will indicate the date and time when you are to appear. You will also be given the Jury Duty Hot Line Telephone number (753-DUTY or 753-3889) to call before coming to the Courthouse. This hot line contains a recording with the latest information as to whether or not you are still required to appear. It is not uncommon for trials to go off before the trial date, even at the last minute, so please use this service in order to avoid an unnecessary trip to the Courthouse.

We are prohibited by law from giving you any legal advice or setting a hearing without a motion and notice to the other party. The Access to Justice Program allows persons to represent themselves in court, while ensuring compliance with law, and giving both sides an opportunity to present their case.

Please read the instructions very carefully before completing the forms.

You are encouraged to seek legal advice concerning the use of the forms prior to completion. The instructions do not contain any legal advice. Should you have any questions, please seek the advice of an attorney.

Additional Legal Self-Help Links

Legal Forms Help Center

Second Judicial District Court Forms

Supreme Court of the State of Nevada Self-Help Forms

Divorce/Domestic Relation Cases Links

This packet allows you to file a motion to enforce an existing court order in your custody or divorce case.

This packet allows you to file a motion to modify an existing court order in your custody or divorce case.

This packet allows you to file a Motion to Continue Hearing.

This packet can help you file for permission to move with your children (as primary custodian) from the State of Nevada. 

This packet will enable you to respond to a complaint for divorce.

Elko County Courthouse completed in 1869

Elko County Courthouse today

The Nevada State Legislature carved Elko County out of the northeastern part of Lander County on March 5, 1869. Named after its principal town and seat of government, the name Elko occurs elsewhere in the nation associated with railroad stations. The origin of the name is uncertain.

Elko County officials initially occupied three adobe buildings and a tent. Within months, the commissioners accepted the plans of Walter Moberly for a courthouse. "The building is to be...of the Roman Doric style of architecture," reported The Elko Independent. "On the first or lower floor there will be four rooms for offices..., with a fireproof vault in one; and also on this floor five cells for holding prisoners...On the second floor will be the courtroom...and four offices..and a portico in front."

In August 1869, the county commissioners awarded a construction contact for $17,744 to W.P. Monroe. As Monroe began building the courthouse, some people called for a more elaborate design. In spite of the addition of higher walls, a heavy cornice, and alterations to the front stairway, Monroe finished the brick courthouse in a little more than three months, on December 18, 1869.

Monroe and the county disagreed over the final bill. After paying him over $20,000 for the courthouse, the commissioners rejected his bill for $240.00 for the locks. Monroe duplicated the keys and distributed them throughout the town, forcing the county to replace the locks at a cost of $600.00.

In 1910, the Elko County commissioners voted to build a new courthouse. The two-story structure, designed by William H. Weeks and built by the Sellman brothers of western Nevada, cost $150,000. The courthouse is on the site of its predecessor. It is a Neo-Classical building with a shallow dome and a two-story pedimented portico supported by Doric columns. A balustrade follows the roof line and accentuated an ornate cornice.

In 1916, an article in the "industrial Issue" of The Elko Independent boasted that the courthouse "isn't the State capitol, as many might suppose, at first glance. It is the beautiful $150,000 county courthouse...built for the needs of the present."

 A Scene of Terror at the Elko County Courthouse

The Elko Independent, July 20, 1870
Chandelier, containing six lamps filled with coal oil, 
falls in the midst of a dense throng
of men, women and children - - Woman in flames - -
The panic and stampede - - Children leap from second-story
window - - Under foot - - Heroic, and other conduct - - Incidents,
ludicrous and otherwise

The Scene:

A terrible accident occurred at the Court House night before last, during the performance given by Professor C.A. Lewis and troupe. The Court Room was filled to overflowing, the greater portion of the seated audience being ladies and children. The entertainment was a most excellent one, and the audience was delighted and in high spirits until near the close, when the janitor of the Court House essayed to turn the lights down in order to darken the room for the exhibition of the tableau. The middle chandelier, containing six large coal oil lamps, with their globes and chimneys, hung immediately over the heads of a number of ladies, and was attached to a pendant bar from the ceiling by a spiral screw, of the existence of which, it appears, the janitor was ignorant, through he knew the chandelier could be easily turned around. In thus turning it, as he had frequently done before, in order to reach all the lamps, the whole thing came down with a crash, the lamps rolling upon the floor under the feet of the audience, two of them bursting and scattering their flaming contents over the ladies, and a great column of flame shooting up almost instantly to the ceiling.

The Wounded:

Mrs. Smith, wife of D.L. Smith, the druggist, sustained more severe external injuries than any one else . . . . . .

Mrs. Harry Harville was knocked down in the doorway and severely trampled before she could be extricated. It is feared she received dangerous internal injuries.

Mrs. Richard Cameron, who also sat under the chandelier, received the contents of the lamp in her slippers and had both feet badly burned, but received no injury, we believe, above the ankles.

Miss N. Cope made a miraculous escape . . . . . .

William B. Dyer had his left hand severely burned from the wrist to the extremity of the fingers, while endeavoring to extinguish the flames.

William Owens, L. Wilsey, Mr. Osborne and others received slight burns about the hands while rescuing the ladies and extinguishing the flames.

Little Alice, aged eight years, daughter of Mrs. Mac of the Verando Hotel, jumped out through a second story window, and sustained no injury save a light scratch on the knee.

History Courtesy of Linda Sarman, Fourth Judicial District Court, Department 1