Ethics cloud lifts from Marren

Friday, Feb. 20, 1998 | 10:28 a.m.

The State Judicial Discipline Commission has dismissed charges of ethics violations against outgoing Clark County Family Court Judge Terrance Marren.

The unanimous action Thursday, regarding Marren's decision in a Las Vegas child custody case, came one day before Marren's final day of a 12-year career in Family Court Services. On Monday he becomes the city of Mesquite's first full-time city attorney.

"My first reaction was to be overjoyed, but then I thought how do I get back the year that this has hung over me? I don't," Marren said. "The commission found no evidence of wrongdoing to proceed."

Special Prosecutor Frank Cremen, who prepared the complaint, had called it a marginal case and said he would recommend it be dropped. The board concurred Thursday in a hearing at the Sawyer State Building.

The allegation had been filed by Chantel Leavitt, who lost custody of her daughter to James Kerr in a case over which Marren presided. She alleged that Marren had sought the advice of Las Vegas attorney James Jimmerson about his own divorce. Jimmerson during that period represented Kerr.

Marren maintains that his discussions with Jimmerson "never rose to the level of attorney-client."

The Nevada Supreme Court upheld Marren's custody decision.

Marren, a resident of Logandale, will earn $80,000 a year as Mesquite city attorney -- $2,900 less than he earns as a judge.

Marren's term as judge would have ended this year. He said he would have run for re-election if he had not been given the opportunity in Mesquite, 80 miles north of Las Vegas.

Previously Marren was reprimanded by the Judicial Discipline Committee for taking too long to reach decisions in three Family Court cases.

Marren served from 1986 to 1992 as Nevada's first Domestic Relations referee. He became one of its first Family Court judges in 1992 when the department was created.