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Committee recommends raising pay for Las Vegas alternate municipal judges to $150 per session
Summary
On Feb. 17 the recommending committee voted to forward an ordinance to increase alternate (pro tem) municipal judge pay from $100 to $150 per session, codifying practice adopted in the FY24 budget and aligning Las Vegas with neighboring jurisdictions.
The Las Vegas recommending committee on Feb. 17 recommended approval of an ordinance that would raise pay for alternate municipal (pro tem) judges from $100 to $150 per session.
Hans Jessup, the city’s court administrator, told the committee the amendment ‘‘adjusts the alternate judge pay, which we call our pro tem judge, from $100 to $150’’ and is intended to codify how the municipal court has been compensating substitute judges since that practice was approved in the FY24 budget. He said the change puts Las Vegas ‘‘in line with our other community courts,’’ citing Henderson and North Las Vegas.
The measure matters to court operations because alternate judges fill calendars when regular judges are absent for conferences, illness or vacations. Jessup said alternate judges or senior judges approved by the Nevada Supreme Court are brought in ‘‘to make sure our public business continues without interruption.’’ He confirmed the city has a specific budget item that covers pro tem costs and said recent use included filling calendars during retirements.
Committee members asked for detail about the ordinance’s use of the term ‘‘session.’’ Jessup explained a session generally means a roughly four‑hour window (a morning or afternoon session, warrant work, or similar), so a full eight‑hour day could amount to $300 under the proposed language. Deputy City Attorney Jillian Bloxaderblum told the committee the last ordinance setting the $100 rate dates to 2000.
One member expressed concern that $150 might still be on the low side for recruiting qualified pro tem judges. Jessup said the city maintains an approved list of about seven pro tem judges and also can draw on senior judges appointed through the Supreme Court; he added the mayor approves the list of pro tem judges and the city does not expect difficulty filling assignments.
A committee member moved to approve the ordinance; the motion passed and the item will be considered by the City Council on March 4, 2026.
The recommending committee’s action is a referral; final adoption of the ordinance requires City Council approval.
