YERINGTON - In an effort to evenly distribute criminal cases in Lyon County, the Walker River Justice Court in Yerington will now be handling any offenses committed in Silver Springs.
Previously, the Canal Township Justice Court in Fernley handled Silver Springs cases and before that it was the jurisdiction of Dayton Justice Court.
Assistant District Attorney Mark Krueger said the justice court judges approached city commissioners and sought the transfer.
"This equalizes the justice courts," he said.
Walker River Justice Court now handles Walker River, Smith Valley and Silver Springs.
Canal Townships Jurisdiction is Fernley.
Dayton Justice Court handles cases from Mound House to Silver City to Stage Coach.
Fernley Justice of the Peace Robert Bennett said the decision to transfer the Silver Springs cases came after it was discovered that Canal Township Justice Court was handling more cases than both Dayton and Walker River.
He said each of Canal Township's four clerks handled 680 cases - not counting traffic citations - in 2008.
Walker River's two clerks each handled 332 cases in 2008. Dayton's four clerks handled 455 cases each.
"In Walker River the judge (Michael Fletcher) there was kind and understood the situation and volunteered that he would be willing to take on Silver Springs," said Bennett.
Bennett called the restructuring a "no-cost" solution. This way, he said, none of the courts would have to hire more clerks.
And in Fernley's case, there is nowhere to put them.
"We just don't have room to put more clerks here. The option of getting more clerks wasn't the most desirable option," he said.
From the center of Silver Springs it's 30 miles to Walker River Justice Court at 30 Nevin Way in Yerington.
It's 19 miles from the center of Silver Springs to Canal Township Justice Court at 565 E. Main St. in Fernley.
The change went into effect Wednesday. Any cases that began before the changeover remain in the court where they were initiated, said Bennett.