Lyon County has three justice courts, and which one has your case depends on where the arrest or citation happened, not where you live. Dayton, Fernley, and Yerington each have their own. A felony or gross misdemeanor that goes forward ends up in the Third Judicial District Court in Yerington.
I’m Theodore FitzGerald, a criminal defense lawyer in Stateline. I work from one rule: the government has to follow the law at every step, in each of Lyon County’s courts.
The three justice courts
Dayton Justice Court. The court lists its area as Dayton, Mound House, Mark Twain, Silver City, and Stagecoach. It handles misdemeanors, traffic citations, and civil matters.
Canal Township Justice Court (Fernley). The county also calls it the Fernley Justice Court. Its jurisdiction is “limited to the Fernley area,” and it hears misdemeanors, traffic citations, and civil matters.
Walker River Justice Court (Yerington). It lists its criminal work as civil traffic infractions, misdemeanor traffic citations, and misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, and felony criminal matters.
Lyon County also lists municipal courts in Fernley and Yerington.
Every Nevada justice court can try misdemeanors and nothing more serious. On a gross misdemeanor or felony the defendant is not asked to plead in justice court; the court holds the preliminary hearing, within 15 days unless it is waived or the judge extends the time for good cause, and sends the case to the district court only if it finds probable cause. When the Dayton court says felonies are “handled by the Third Judicial District Court,” it means where they are tried. The preliminary hearing still happens in the justice court unless it is waived.
If you are in jail
Lyon County’s published court information says inmates are arraigned by video “within 72 hours of arrest, excluding weekends and holidays,” at times that depend on the judges’ schedules. Separately, Nevada law requires a pretrial release hearing within 48 hours after a person is taken into custody, in open court or by remote communication, subject to the exceptions the statute lists. How those rules work is on Bail, Custody, and Getting Out of the Douglas County Jail; the statutes are the same in Lyon County.
The Third Judicial District Court
Lyon County is the Third Judicial District. Its district court, a court of general jurisdiction, holds court in Yerington, tries felony and gross-misdemeanor cases, and hears appeals from the justice and municipal courts. A misdemeanor conviction in a Lyon County justice court can be appealed there, but the notice is due within 10 days of the judgment.
The county has posted an interim court schedule and a construction schedule for a courthouse redesign. Check the current schedule before traveling.
Can I appear remotely?
None of the Lyon County justice court pages publishes a procedure for a defendant who is out of custody to appear remotely. A remote appearance has to be requested and approved in advance. Until it is, plan to be in the courtroom.
When a remote appearance is approved, treat it like a courtroom. Use a quiet room, a working camera and microphone, and dress as you would for court. Judges notice, and a clean remote appearance makes the next request easier to grant.
On an unexcused misdemeanor absence, the court must order a warrant within 14 judicial days, and failing to appear after release is a separate crime unless you surrender within 30 days.
Address and contact
Dayton Justice Court Bluestone Building, 235 Main Street, Dayton, NV 89403 Phone: (775) 246-6233 · Fax: (775) 246-6203 Lobby: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Canal Township Justice Court (Fernley) 565 East Main Street, Fernley, NV 89408 Phone: (775) 575-3355 Hours: Monday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed noon to 1:00 p.m.); Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon
Walker River Justice Court 911 Harvey Way, Suite 2, Yerington, NV 89447 Phone: (775) 463-6639 Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Third Judicial District Court 911 Harvey Way, Yerington, NV 89447 Phone: (775) 463-6509
Working with FitzGerald Law in Lyon County
On a Lyon County case, my office first confirms which justice court has it, since the three courts keep separate calendars and contacts. From there the office requests a remote appearance where the court will consider one, tells you in advance which dates need you in the courtroom, and plans a felony around the preliminary hearing, which decides whether the case goes to Yerington at all.
The date on your paperwork is already set. Hire me now, and I’ll get to work on everything that comes before it. Call FitzGerald Law.