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talking points Now our air show needs saving Reno Air Races got $600,000 from government for insurance; should Nellis get help? by Richard N. Velotta L CO GU LU ES M T N ess than a year ago, the Nevada Tourism Commission rescued the Reno Air Races from certain cancellation after the show's insurance premium spiked. The state delivered $600,000 to preserve one of the last air races in the world. Now, fans of a Southern Nevada air show are hoping for a similar bailout. Most Southern Nevadans' only knowledge about the Reno Air Races came in the aftermath of a horrific 2011 crash that killed 11 people and hurt 69. It was the third-worst air show disaster in U.S. history. As a result, the show's insurance premium skyrocketed, and organizers complained they couldn't cover the 500 percent increase. Race Director Mike Houghton was desperate and made the eleventh-hour pitch to the 20130408_VI06_F.indd 6 Aviation Nation, and it gives Southern Nevadans one less thing to do in November. The Reno Air Races have to rely on state resources to survive. Aviation Nation could likely be restored with a few signatures on a budget document. Still, there's something that just isn't right about the final outcome for these two shows — and it's seemingly inevitable that South vs. North sentiments will enter the picture. The Tourism Commission set a precedent when it voted to save the Reno Air Races. Right or wrong, it is bound to be criticized if Aviation Nation becomes a memory of an event that politicians took away from the public. rick.velotta@lasvegassun.com / 259-4061 / @VegasInc_TheRV Nellis Air Force Base's annual display of military aircraft and precision flight teams has been sequestrated out of existence. The defense budget was cut by $46 billion. Nevada Supreme Court is overburdened, unnecessarily delaying justice for the citizenry rticle 6 of the Nevada Constitution provides for one appellate court — the Supreme Court. Every single appeal from decisions rendered by Nevada's 82 District Courts must be reviewed by the Supreme Court. This two-tier structure has resulted in a staggering caseload for the Supreme Court, and the delay of justice — sometimes by years — for citizens. An appellate court is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower court. In most states, the system is divided into at least three levels. Forty of the 50 states have an intermediate appellate court. The Nevada Supreme Court has a crushing caseload, one of the heaviest in the nation. Seven justices have handled more than 2,250 cases in each of the past three years. To fully appreciate this burden, consider a report pub6 forcing organizers to cancel the show. I dropped an email to Tourism Commission Chairman Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki asking if the commission would do anything to help restore the event, which typically draws more than 100,000 people. Commission members haven't deliberated on the matter yet, but Krolicki said the commission should do whatever it can to get Aviation Nation back in the air. Clearly, the Reno Air Races and Aviation Nation are two different types of events. The Reno Air Races is a nonprofit show; Aviation Nation is a platform for America's Defense Department. Remove the Reno Air Races from the calendar, and it disrupts a regional economy. Remove The case for a new appeals court by Sens. Tick Segerblom and Mark Hutchison A Tourism Commission. It wasn't shocking that members voted to rescue the show. The commission is composed primarily of Northern Nevada tourism leaders who know the history of the races and what they mean to the region's economy. The five-day event attracts 215,000 people, including 70,000 who travel from out of town. Officials estimate the races have an economic impact of $80 million on Northern Nevada. The state anticipates a $6 million return on its $600,000 investment. Meanwhile, in Southern Nevada, Aviation Nation, Nellis Air Force Base's annual display of military aircraft and precision flight teams, has been sequestrated out of existence. The defense budget was cut by $46 billion, lished by the National Center for State Courts titled, "Court Statistics Project, 2012." This report concludes that of the 10 states with no intermediate appellate court, Nevada has the highest number of incoming cases at 2,288. When considering the number of incoming cases per 100,000 total population, West Virginia is first with 90 cases per 100,000, Delaware is second with 86 cases and Nevada is third with 85 cases. Comparing the caseload in Nevada's Supreme Court (85 per 100,000 people) with the caseloads of the 40 states with one or more intermediate appellate courts, 17 have a higher caseload per 100,000 (ranging from 86 cases to 234 cases) and 22 have a lower caseload per 100,000 (from 31 cases to 84 cases). The number of cases each justice handles is likewise staggering. The American Bar Association's suggested caseload for an appellate judge is 100 cases. In fiscal year 2011-12, the average caseload per justice of the Nevada Supreme Court was 357 cases. This means Nevada justices have less time to carefully consider and write opinions, which clarify state law and thereby benefit the public. The bar association's standard for the review and resolution of appellate cases is one year. Based on data from the Nevada Supreme Court, for calendar year 2012, the court will resolve approximately 73 percent of the cases within the one-year standard. Senate Joint Resolution 14 proposes to amend the Nevada Constitution to create a court of appeals, which would be composed of three judges. Based on the business plan submitted by Nevada's Supreme Court, the cost for the court would be approximately $1.5 million annually to cover the salaries of judges and staff. There would be no facility costs because the new court would reside in the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas within existing Nevada Supreme Court space. The new court would assign certain types of cases to the court of appeals. This system would provide for a speedy disposition of typical case types, such as divorces, personal injury claims and foreclosures. It would also provide the Supreme Court with cases calling for greater review, including cases presenting constitutional issues, and development of opinions. This process would provide for greater and most efficient access to justice for Nevada's citizens. Sen. Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sen. Mark Hutchison, R-Las Vegas, is a member of the committee. Both are attorneys. The suggested caseload for an appellate judge is 100 cases. In fiscal year 2011-12, the average caseload per justice of the Nevada Supreme Court was 357 cases. | 8 APRIL 2013 | 4/4/13 2:22:05 PM