New assistant DA named

Bill Gang

Wednesday, July 1, 1998 | 2:10 a.m.

District Attorney Stewart Bell has named his former law partner Michael Davidson as his new assistant district attorney to supervise the office's civil and child support divisions.

Davidson, who will earn about $105,000 as Bell's second assistant district attorney, replaces Johnnie Rawlinson who recently was appointed Nevada's newest federal judge.

Bell praised Davidson as "an outstanding lawyer with the highest rating ... for competence and professionalism" from a national organization that rates lawyers.

"He brings to the office 20 years of experience in criminal, civil and domestic litigation and also serves on the board of governors for the State Bar Association," Bell said.

Bell adamantly denied that his past relationship with Davidson played a role in the decision other than giving him the knowledge about Davidson's abilities.

He said it would be fair to criticize him about the appointment if Davidson weren't qualified but because of his "extensive background in the areas he will be supervising, that wouldn't be fair criticism."

Bell said that Davidson is taking a substantial pay cut by leaving private practice to join the district attorney's office.

"I'm not doing him a favor, he's doing me a favor," Bell said. "It's a good deal for us."

Davidson will supervise the civil division, which handles lawsuits filed against the county and advises county departments, and the family support division, which collects and distributes child support payments from recalcitrant non-custodial parents.

Bell said he also will conduct coroner's inquests as Rawlinson did.

Davidson, 44, has been in private practice in Las Vegas since 1979. He is a graduate of the University of Miami with a bachelor's degree in biology and the University of Arizona law school.

He has been involved in several law-related committees and sat as an alternate juvenile referee and small claims referee and worked as a Nevada Supreme Court settlement judge.