What to expect at the Regional Justice Center for a Las Vegas injury lawsuit

Last updated October 8, 2026.

The Regional Justice Center, at 200 Lewis Avenue in Downtown Las Vegas, holds both courts that hear most Las Vegas injury cases: the Eighth Judicial District Court for claims over $15,000 and the Las Vegas Justice Court for claims up to $15,000. Every visitor is screened for weapons, and courtroom dress and phone rules apply.

Most car accident claims settle without anyone setting foot in a courthouse. But if your case is filed, this is the building where hearings, discovery disputes and trials usually happen. Knowing which court and which floor you need saves time on a stressful day.

How does an injury case move through the Regional Justice Center?

The case is filed in the right court. Claims over $15,000 enter the District Court by the filing of a complaint; claims of $15,000 or less can go to the Justice Court (NRS 4.370).
Filings are made electronically. The District Court Clerk lets parties file and serve documents online through Odyssey File & Serve, and the Clerk's Civil Counter is on the 3rd floor. Electronic filing is mandatory for all civil case filings in the Las Vegas Justice Court; filing at the court's own terminals carries no e-filing fee.
The ADR Office reviews District Court cases. Most District Court cases worth $100,000 or less per plaintiff are sent to court-annexed arbitration. That program and the Short Trial Program are run from the ADR Office in the Phoenix Building at 330 S. Third St., not the Regional Justice Center; see arbitration and short trials in Clark County.
Discovery disputes go to the Discovery Commissioner. Hearings are held in Room 5308 on the 5th floor of the Regional Justice Center.
Hearings and trials. Judges hear motions and trials in courtrooms in the building. The steps from complaint to trial are in what happens after a car accident lawsuit is filed in Clark County.

Who is where in the building

Office	What it does for an injury case	Where and when (as listed by the courts)
Eighth Judicial District Court	Civil cases over $15,000	200 Lewis Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89155; building Mon to Fri 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
District Court Clerk, Civil Counter	Filings; online filing through Odyssey File & Serve	3rd floor; Clerk's office Mon to Fri 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; (702) 455-2590
Discovery Commissioner hearings	Disputes over evidence exchange	Room 5308, 5th floor
Las Vegas Justice Court, Civil Division	Civil cases up to $15,000; small claims up to $10,000; evictions; protection orders	2nd floor; Mon to Thu 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed Fridays; 702-671-3478
Civil Law Self-Help Center	Help for people without a lawyer in Justice and District Court civil matters	1st floor; Mon to Thu 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Fri 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Clark County District Attorney	Criminal prosecutions	200 Lewis Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89101

What are the building's rules?

The courts' security and decorum rules are strict and the same for everyone:

No weapons are allowed in the Regional Justice Center, including guns and knives. Anyone carrying weapons can be detained and arrested.
Every visitor is screened. You must remove all metal and place it in a basket, and belts must be removed.
No shorts or tank tops in the courtroom, shoes are required, and hats come off.
Phones and other electronic devices must be turned off before entering a courtroom.
No eating, drinking or gum in courtrooms, and no smoking inside the building.

Plan extra time for screening, especially in the morning, and bring every document the court or your attorney has asked for.

What happens at a District Court case, start to finish?

A District Court injury case usually passes through the building more than once, but not every step needs you there in person. A typical path looks like this:

Filing and service. The complaint is filed with the Clerk, usually online, and the defendant must be served within 120 days (NRCP 4(e)). You normally do not need to visit the building for this.
The early case conference. The parties meet within 30 days after the first defendant answers and exchange witness lists and documents (NRCP 16.1). This is between the parties, not a courtroom hearing.
Discovery. Written questions, document requests and depositions. If the sides disagree, the Discovery Commissioner decides, with hearings in Room 5308.
Arbitration or trial setting. Many cases go to an arbitrator through the ADR Office; others are set for trial. A party who wants a jury must serve a written demand no later than the order first setting the case for trial (NRCP 38).
Trial. If the case is tried, it is heard in a courtroom in the building, and the security and dress rules above apply to everyone in the room, including witnesses and family members.

Many cases settle at some point along the way. Knowing the stages helps you plan time off work and arrange rides or child care well before a court date.

What changes the answer

The size of the claim. A claim of $15,000 or less belongs in the Justice Court on the 2nd floor; over $15,000, the District Court (NRS 4.370). Small claims, up to $10,000, also go to the Justice Court (NRS 73.010). Most serious injury cases are District Court cases.

Where the defendant lives. Venue is generally the county where a defendant lives, or, if none lives in Nevada, the county the plaintiff names (NRS 13.040). Out-of-state trucking companies are covered in suing an out-of-state trucking company in Nevada.

A related criminal case. A drunk driver's felony case runs separately from your civil case, even if both are in the same building. See how the DUI criminal case affects your claim. Victims who want to be heard can read about speaking at the sentencing.

A death in the family. Wrongful death claims are District Court cases too; see who can bring a wrongful death claim in Nevada.

Visitors. If you live outside Nevada, most of your case can still be handled remotely; see visitors hurt in a Las Vegas crash.

The 2-year deadline. Nothing about the courthouse changes it: an injury lawsuit generally must be filed within 2 years (NRS 11.190).

For example: a first hearing day

Imagine a hypothetical plaintiff named Daniel whose injury case is in District Court. His attorney tells him a discovery hearing is set before the Discovery Commissioner. Daniel arrives early, places his keys and belt in the screening basket, and turns his phone off before going to Room 5308 on the 5th floor. He wears long pants and closed shoes. The hearing is short, and his case then returns to the arbitration track run from the ADR Office. This walk-through is hypothetical.

Common mistakes on a courthouse day

Bringing anything that looks like a weapon. Pocket knives and similar items are not allowed.
Arriving late. Screening takes time.
Dressing for the weather, not the courtroom. Shorts and tank tops are not allowed.
Going to the wrong court. The District Court and the Justice Court are in the same building but on different floors.
Going to the RJC for arbitration. The ADR Office is in the Phoenix Building.
Leaving your phone on. Devices must be off before entering a courtroom.

What to do before your court date

Confirm whether your case is in District Court or Justice Court, and the case number.
Check the floor and room for your hearing.
Plan for screening: no weapons, metal in the basket, belts off.
Dress for the courtroom: no shorts or tank tops, shoes required.
Bring the documents your attorney asked for. For how the claim gets here, see what happens after a car accident in Las Vegas.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Regional Justice Center?

At 200 Lewis Avenue in Downtown Las Vegas. The District Court lists the building's hours as Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Which court hears my car accident lawsuit?

Claims over $15,000 go to the Eighth Judicial District Court; claims of $15,000 or less, including small claims up to $10,000, can go to the Las Vegas Justice Court. Both are in the building.

Is there help for people without a lawyer?

Yes. The Civil Law Self-Help Center on the 1st floor helps self-represented people with civil matters in the Justice and District Courts.

Can I bring my phone?

Phones must be turned off before you enter a courtroom. Check with the court for any other limits on devices in the building.

Where are arbitration hearings held?

The court-annexed arbitration program is run by the ADR Office in the Phoenix Building, 330 S. Third St.

Do I have to attend every hearing in my case?

Not always. Many steps, such as filings, the early case conference and written discovery, happen outside the courtroom. Your attorney will tell you which hearings need you there, and you should plan for the building's screening and dress rules on those days. Trial days and some settlement conferences are the ones most likely to need you in person.

Can I file court papers online?

The District Court Clerk lets parties file and serve online through Odyssey File & Serve. In the Las Vegas Justice Court, electronic filing is mandatory for civil cases.

If your crash case may end up at the Regional Justice Center, attorney Maysoun Fletcher can explain what to expect at each step. Call 702-333-6339 for a free consultation.