# Nev. 8th Jud. DCR 1.44: Rule 1.44 . Civil commitments and hearing masters; duties of the Division of Public and Behavioral Health; duties of counsel > Nevada · Court rules · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_NV_EIGHTHDCR_R1_44 ## Section - **Citation:** Nev. 8th Jud. DCR 1.44 - **Heading:** Rule 1.44 . Civil commitments and hearing masters; duties of the Division of Public and Behavioral Health; duties of counsel - **Jurisdiction:** Nevada - **Kind:** Court rules - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Nevada Court Rules / Rules of Practice for the Eighth Judicial District Court / Rule 1.44 ## Text (a) The provisions of this rule apply to all court-ordered admissions of any person alleged to be in a mental health crisis. (b) Unless otherwise ordered by the chief judge, or the district judge assigned by the chief judge, civil commitment hearings must be conducted by the civil commitment hearing master. The compensation of the master must not be taxed against the parties, but when fixed by the chief judge, must be paid out of appropriations made for the expenses of the court. Every master must be in good standing as a member of the State Bar of Nevada. (c) The civil commitment hearing master may conduct formal court hearings at the hospital or wherever is most convenient to the master and the person alleged to be in a mental health crisis. The master has the authority to swear witnesses, take evidence, appoint independent medical evaluators, evaluate competency, recommend guardians, and conduct all other matters relating to the involuntary commitment proceeding. All proceedings must be recorded or transcribed by a duly appointed court recorder or reporter as provided by law. (d) Not less than 24 hours before the time set for a commitment hearing, the Administrator of the Public and Behavioral Health Division, or the administrator’s designee, must examine each person alleged to be in a mental health crisis and prepare, for presentation at the hearing, a report designating which facilities are available together with a recommendation of the least restrictive environment suitable to the patient’s needs. At the time of the hearing, the person alleged to be in a mental health crisis must not be so under the influence of or so suffer the effects of drugs, medication, or other treatment as to be hampered in preparing for or participating in the hearing, and a record of all drugs, medication, or other treatment that the person has received during the 72 hours immediately prior to the hearing must be presented to the master ring, the person alleged to be in a mental health crisis must not be so under the influence of or so suffer the effects of drugs, medication, or other treatment as to be hampered in preparing for or participating in the hearing, and a record of all drugs, medication, or other treatment that the person has received during the 72 hours immediately prior to the hearing must be presented to the master. (e) The Clark County Public Defender’s Office must furnish counsel for all persons alleged to be in a mental health crisis not otherwise represented by an attorney. (1) Prior to the hearing, the public defender or the attorney for the person alleged to be in a mental health crisis must interview the person, explain to the person their rights pending court-ordered treatment, the procedures leading to court-ordered treatment, the standards for court-ordered treatment, and the alternative of becoming a voluntary patient. The public defender must also explain that the person can obtain counsel at the person’s own expense. (2) Prior to the hearing, the person’s attorney must review the commitment petition, evaluation reports, the patient’s medical records, and the list of alternatives to court-ordered treatment. (f) At the conclusion of each hearing, a copy of the written recommendation of the hearing master must be given to the person, the person’s counsel, and the district attorney. Not later than 5:00 p.m. on the day the hearing concludes, the hearing master’s recommendation must be submitted to the chief judge or the district judge assigned by the chief judge. (g) Objections to the master’s recommendation must be made to the chief judge or the district judge assigned by the chief judge at the time the report is submitted or at such other time as the chief judge or the district judge assigned by the chief judge may prescribe. The chief judge or the district judge assigned by the chief judge may require oral objections to be reduced to writing hief judge. (g) Objections to the master’s recommendation must be made to the chief judge or the district judge assigned by the chief judge at the time the report is submitted or at such other time as the chief judge or the district judge assigned by the chief judge may prescribe. The chief judge or the district judge assigned by the chief judge may require oral objections to be reduced to writing. (h) After reviewing the master’s recommendation and any objection thereto, the chief judge or the district judge assigned by the chief judge must: (1) Approve the same and order the recommended disposition; (2) Reject the recommendation and order such relief as may be appropriate; or (3) Direct a rehearing. (i) All rehearings of matters heard before the master must be before the chief judge or the district judge assigned by the chief judge and must be conducted de novo. (j) No recommendation of a master will become effective until expressly approved by the chief judge or the district judge assigned by the chief judge. ## Nearby sections - [Nev. 8th Jud. DCR 1.12 Rule 1.12 . Definitions of words and terms. In these rules, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires:](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_NV_EIGHTHDCR_R1_12.md) - [Nev. 8th Jud. DCR 1.30 Rule 1.30 . Chief judge.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_NV_EIGHTHDCR_R1_30.md) - [Nev. 8th Jud. DCR 1.33 Rule 1.33 . Specialization of judges; procedure for selection. The chief judge may assign the judges of the district to specialized case types in the court for 2-year terms as needed. The assignments may provide for rotation of the judges among the various case types. In making the assignments, the chief judge shall request the district judges to recommend the assignments and shall take into account the desires of each individual judge. However, the final selection is left to the discretion of the chief judge. Assignments may be made as follows:](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_NV_EIGHTHDCR_R1_33.md) - [Nev. 8th Jud. DCR 1.44 Rule 1.44 . Civil commitments and hearing masters; duties of the Division of Public and Behavioral Health; duties of counsel.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_NV_EIGHTHDCR_R1_44.md) - [Nev. 8th Jud. DCR 1.45 Rule 1.45 . Juvenile judges.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_NV_EIGHTHDCR_R1_45.md) - [Nev. 8th Jud. DCR 1.47 Rule 1.47 . Family mediation center (FMC) mediators.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_NV_EIGHTHDCR_R1_47.md) - [Nev. 8th Jud. DCR 1.48 Rule 1.48 . Criminal masters.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_NV_EIGHTHDCR_R1_48.md) - [Nev. 8th Jud. DCR 1.50 Rule 1.50 . Court executive officer. The court executive officer is responsible for the administration of the rules, policies, and directives of the district court. In addition to the duties prescribed below, the district court executive officer shall be denominated the administrator of the clerk of the court and may appoint an assistant court administrator to hold the additional title of clerk of the court who shall perform all the statutory and other duties assigned to that office. Subject to the direction of the chief judge acting on behalf of the district judges, the court executive officer must:](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_NV_EIGHTHDCR_R1_50.md) - [Nev. 8th Jud. DCR 1.53 Rule 1.53 . Court employees participating in recognized employee organizations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_NV_EIGHTHDCR_R1_53.md) - [Nev. 8th Jud. DCR 1.60 Rule 1.60 . Assignment or transfer of cases generally.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_NV_EIGHTHDCR_R1_60.md) - [Nev. 8th Jud. DCR 1.61 Rule 1.61 . Assignment of business matters.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_NV_EIGHTHDCR_R1_61.md) - [Nev. 8th Jud. DCR 1.64 Rule 1.64 . Assignment of criminal cases.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_NV_EIGHTHDCR_R1_64.md) - [Nev. 8th Jud. DCR 1.65 Rule 1.65 . Assignment of and lack of peremptory challenges in construction defect matters.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_NV_EIGHTHDCR_R1_65.md) - [Nev. 8th Jud. DCR 1.66 Rule 1.66 . Medical malpractice matters.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_NV_EIGHTHDCR_R1_66.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_NV_EIGHTHDCR_R1_44. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.