Part-time judges’ cases may be retried

Bill Gang

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1998 | 2:09 a.m.

The Las Vegas city attorney's office has decided that out of a sense of fairness, rather than a requirement of law, new trials will be granted in any contested cases heard by two part-time judges who had lost their law licenses.

City Attorney Brad Jerbic said the rehearings will be granted only upon request and notification will be provided only through the media, not individual letters or contact.

Nearly 12,000 cases were presided over by attorneys Laura Ungaro and Brian Morrison between January and August when their licenses were suspended because they failed to complete and pay for mandatory legal education programs for 1996.

Municipal Court Administrator Michael Havemann has said that only about 1 percent of the cases were contested and required the pro tempore judges to decide guilt or innocence and hand down fines or jail terms.

Morrison and Ungaro also presided over about 8,000 cases in Las Vegas Justice Court, but only 485 of those were contested small claims cases.

Justice Court Administrator Steven Morris said that new hearings will be granted in those cases also upon request.

The licenses of both attorneys have been reinstated, but they could be at risk again for suspension.

The two court systems have filed complaints with the Nevada State Bar Association and the Nevada Judicial Disciplinary Commission.