Governor picks Denton to fill judicial vacancy

Thursday, Aug. 20, 1998 | 10:39 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Clark County attorney Mark Denton, 46, has been named by Gov. Bob Miller to succeed District Judge Don Chairez, who resigned to run for Congress.

Denton said he hopes to wrap up his law practice within a few weeks and take the oath of office. His term will end in January. But he's already prepared to run for election in November to complete the unexpired term of Chairez.

Denton, who needs the signatures of 1,674 voters on a petition to qualify him for the ballot, says he has more than 2,500 already gathered.

In announcing the appointment, Miller said, "Mr. Denton brings a solid background of legal experience to the bench. I am confident in his abilities and integrity. He will serve the people of Clark County well."

Denton was born in Elko, raised in Boulder City and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. He received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1976 and returned to Nevada to go into practice with his father Ralph Denton, who in the past was prominent in Democratic party affairs.

Denton has served as an alternate juvenile court referee since 1980, as associate municipal court judge in Boulder City since 1991, as arbitrator with the court annexed arbitration program since 1992 and as a Nevada Supreme Court settlement judge since 1997.

There were seven applicants for the job. The state Commission on Judicial Selection narrowed the list to three -- Denton, Kenneth Cory of Henderson and Philip Kohn of Las Vegas.