The Supreme Court is declining to hear oral arguments in the GPS tracker case involving Mayor Hillary Schieve, the latest chapter in a convoluted, drawn out legal marathon.
No reason was given in the court order declining to take up the case this morning.
In April, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled the First Amendment does not protect “John Doe” in the case, which was followed by lawyers appealing to the Supreme Court to keep John Doe’s identity secret.
The case stems from secret GPS tracking devices found on Schieve’s and former Washoe County Commissioner Vaughn Hartung’s personal vehicles in 2022, with the two seeking to hold all parties accountable for the violation of their privacy including the hired private investigator.
Washoe County District Court Judge David Hardy has ordered the private investigator David McNeely, whose PI business is called 5 Alpha Industries, to reveal the name of his client in this case. John Doe was apparently trying to uncover alleged misconduct, which did not appear to materialize.
Motions are now expected concerning the Supreme Court’s denial, in what has been a drawn out case with many twists and turns, but no resolution as of yet.
If John Doe’s identity is eventually released, as now appears more likely, a civil case filed by Schieve and Hartung would be able to move forward.