Nev. Rev. Stat. » NRS: CHAPTER 4 - JUSTICE COURTS
Nevada Revised Statutes

Nev. Rev. Stat. § 4.355 (2026)

Referee: Conditions for appointment; qualifications; powers and duties; decisions; compensation

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NRS 4.355  Referee: Conditions for appointment; qualifications; powers and duties; decisions; compensation.

      1.  A justice of the peace in a township whose population is 40,000 or more may appoint a referee to take testimony and recommend orders and a judgment:

      (a) In any action filed pursuant to NRS 73.010;

      (b) In any action filed pursuant to NRS 33.200 to 33.360, inclusive;

      (c) In any action for a misdemeanor constituting a violation of chapters 484A to 484E, inclusive, of NRS, except NRS 484C.110 or 484C.120;

      (d) In any action for a misdemeanor constituting a violation of a county traffic ordinance; or

      (e) In any action to determine whether a person has committed a civil infraction punishable pursuant to NRS 484A.703 to 484A.705, inclusive.

      2.  The referee must meet the qualifications of a justice of the peace as set forth in NRS 4.010.

      3.  The referee:

      (a) Shall take testimony;

      (b) Shall make findings of fact, conclusions of law and recommendations for an order or judgment;

      (c) May, subject to confirmation by the justice of the peace, enter an order or judgment; and

      (d) Has any other power or duty contained in the order of reference issued by the justice of the peace.

      4.  The findings of fact, conclusions of law and recommendations of the referee must be furnished to each party or his or her attorney at the conclusion of the proceeding or as soon thereafter as possible. Within 5 days after receipt of the findings of fact, conclusions of law and recommendations, a party may file a written objection. If no objection is filed, the court shall accept the findings, unless clearly erroneous, and the judgment may be entered thereon. If an objection is filed within the 5-day period, the justice of the peace shall review the matter by trial de novo, except that if all of the parties so stipulate, the review must be confined to the record.

      5.  A referee must be paid one-half of the hourly compensation of a justice of the peace.

      (Added to NRS by 1989, 378; A 1991, 47; 2001, 2849; 2005, 160; 2009, 1875; 2015, 945; 2021, 3345)

     

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases, 2018–2018 · leading case: Southworth Vs. Dist. Ct. (las Vegas Paving Corp.), 2018 NV 20 (Nev. 2018).
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Southworth Vs. Dist. Ct. (las Vegas Paving Corp.), 2018 NV 20 (Nev. 2018). · cites it 2× “The matter was first heard by a referee appointed by the justice of the peace in accordance with NRS 4.355 and as incorporated by Rule 48 of the Justice Court Rules of Las Vegas Township.”
Southworth Vs. Dist. Ct. (las Vegas Paving Corp.), 2018 NV 20 (Nev. 2018). “The matter was first heard by a referee appointed by the justice of the peace in accordance with NRS 4.355 and as incorporated by Rule 48 of the Justice Court Rules of Las Vegas Township.”
Southworth v. Eighth Jud. Dist. Court of Nev., 414 P.3d 311 (Nev. 2018). “The matter was first heard by a referee appointed by the justice of the peace in accordance with NRS 4.355 and as incorporated by Rule 48 of the Justice Court Rules of Las Vegas Township.”
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