Published decisions & the legislative year
As of Thursday, the Nevada Supreme Court has published only 12 opinions this year. The number of unpublished opinions is not known (by me, I presume the Court knows). The low number is not surprising given the fact that two justices were just elected, but it also follows a pattern of lower output of published decisions while the Legislature is in session. The Nevada Legislature meets for four months every other year, but there is also significant legislative action in the weeks prior to the start of the session. It's my belief that the Court's administrative responsibilities as supervisors of the judicial system results in fewer published decisions during the period of January 1 to June 1 in odd years, which correspond with the legislative season:
2007 - 12 published opinions (as of 5/3/07)
2005 - 22 published opinions
2003 - 24 published opinions
2001 - 37 published opinions
1999 - 23 published opinons
In contrast, the Court's production of published decisions during the period of January 1 to June 1 is greater in even years, when the Legislature is not in session:
2006 - 43 published opinions
2004 - 31 published opinions
2002 - 41 published opinions
2000 - 60 published opinions
1998 - 75 published opinions
The average number of published opinions in odd years from January 1 to June 1 (not including 2007) is 26.5
The average number of published opinions in even years from January 1 to June 1 is 50.