State officials are fast-tracking funding, applications and rule-setting ahead of a Jan. 5 start date for a new Nevada Court of Appeals.
Supreme Court Justice James Hardesty says he'll ask the state Board of Examiners on Wednesday to release $782,500 in startup money that the Legislature set aside last year in case voters approved a constitutional amendment to create the court.
The measure, Question 1, passed by a 54 percent to 46 percent margin on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Nevada Commission on Judicial Selection official Myrna Byrd says five people have applied so far, ahead of a 5 p.m. Wednesday deadline.
Gov. Brian Sandoval will make the final appointments.
Hardesty says a Supreme Court hearing Dec. 4 aims to establish appeals rules and jurisdictional questions for the new court.(AP)
