Nevada Senate passes three court bills

The Nevada Senate on Thursday unanimously passed three procedural court measures, including one bill allowing all courts to open on Sundays to take telephone calls.

The bills are headed to the Assembly.

SB87 would allow courts to take phone calls or issue temporary orders on Sundays and public holidays. Under current law, only justice courts and municipal courts can open Sundays, with some exceptions.

SB89 clarifies criminal code to allow a defendant to be declared incompetent to stand trial at any time before court proceedings begin. Previous language allowed that to happen only "when a complaint, indictment or information is called for."

SB88 would enable district judges to immediately transfer to justice court most civil lawsuits with claimed damages of less than $7,500.