Reno Justice Court

Reno Justice Court is a court of limited jurisdiction and is divided into three (3) main areas; the Citation Division, the Civil Division and the Criminal Division.

The Citation Division deals with all citations issued in Reno Township including, but not limited to those issued by the Nevada Highway Patrol, the Washoe County Sheriff`s Office, the University of Nevada Police Department, the Division of Wild Life, the Gaming Control Board, the State Contractor`s Board and Washoe County Animal Control. If you have been instructed that you can come to Court and pay the fine on your citation without seeing a judge, your case has more than likely been directed to the Citation Division.

The Civil Division is divided into four (4) areas; Small Claims, Civil Actions, Evictions and Stalking and Harassment. Small Claims actions have a monetary limit of $10,000.00 and are conducted more informally, generally, without attorneys present. Civil actions have a monetary limit of $15,000.00. Evictions deal with landlord-tenant disputes. Stalking and harassing orders are available for cases that do not involve domestic or intimate relationships (e.g., sons, daughters, husbands, wives, boyfriend or girlfriend).

The Criminal Division deals with cases which are being prosecuted by the Washoe County District Attorney`s Office (or the State of Nevada Attorney General`s Office in certain cases). All criminal proceedings in Reno Township, whether misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or felony cases originate in Reno Justice Court. A preliminary examination is held in gross misdemeanor and felony cases and, upon a finding of probable cause by the judge, the case is forwarded to the Second Judicial District Court for adjudication. Reno Justice Court is the trial court in misdemeanor cases.