New Court of Appeals signs first 42 orders

Two weeks after taking on its first cases, Nevada’s new Court of Appeals announced Wednesday that it has signed its first court orders filed with the Supreme Court Clerk of the Court.

Chief Judge Michael P. Gibbons signed off on the first 42 orders two weeks after its initial caseload of 167 cases. They resolved 34 criminal and 11 civil cases.

“We have hit the ground running and are making an immediate impact,” Gibbons said of the accomplishment in a Wednesday statement. “All three appellate judges understand the need for speedy, fair and accurate decisions, and we are working very hard to achieve this goal.”

The Court of Appeals decided its first case during Johnny William Johnson vs. The State of Nevada, where Johnson was found guilty in Las Vegas of two counts of attempted murder with the use of a deadly weapon, three firearm charges and two charges of assault and battery with a deadly weapon. The court affirmed the jury’s verdict and District Judge Michelle Leavitt’s sentencing decision.

Among the 42 orders, 28 were affirming; five were reversed and remanded; two denied petitions for writ of mandamus; two dismissed petitions for writ of quo warranto; two dismissed appeals; one denied a petition for writ of certiorari; one order affirmed in part while reversing in part and remanding; and another order affirmed while limited remand to correct the judgment of conviction.

In 2014, voters approved the creation of the Court of Appeals by allowing an amendment to Article 6 of Nevada’s Constitution.

The Court of Appeals, consisting of judges Gibbons, Jerome T. Tao and Abbi Silver, are assigned cases by the Nevada Supreme Court.

The Court of Appeals expects to receive about 700 cases a year.

Contact reporter Cassandra Taloma at ctaloma@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Follow @CassandraTaloma on Twitter.