Judge, county clerk criticize letter sent to Hispanic group

Sunday, March 21, 1999 | 9:18 a.m.

District Judge Charles McGee and county Clerk Amy Harvey apologized for the unauthorized letter sent earlier this month to Latinos for Political Education by Brigitte Kroll, Harvey's administrative secretary.

"I'm totally outraged. This is inexcusable," Harvey said, adding she was unaware of the letter because it was written while she was out of town.

McGee, speaking on behalf of judges who preside over the ceremonies, branded the letter as inexcusable and intolerable, and welcomed the group's continued participation.

It is unclear why Kroll sent the letter.

"Sorry," she said, declining further comment.

Harvey said she's reviewing her options for disciplinary action against Kroll, a holdover employee she inherited when she took office in January.

In her March 1 letter, Kroll claimed the group had been barred from participating in monthly naturalization ceremonies at the federal courthouse in Reno.

The letter also claimed the clerk's office had received numerous complaints regarding the group's "political standing."

Kroll wrote a second letter after an American Civil Liberties Union attorney intervened at the request of the group.

In that letter, she said the group could participate, but must address new citizens in English whenever possible and must not be political.

Both letters featured Harvey's name typed on the signature line and Kroll's written signature at the bottom.

Group president Emma Sepulveda described the letters as harassment, saying her group is nonpartisan and has given welcoming talks to new citizens in both English and Spanish over the last three years.

Representatives of other groups, including the Elks Lodge and Veterans for Foreign Wars, also make short speeches at the ceremonies.

"We're just really shocked," Sepulveda said.

She said she believes Harvey was unaware of the letters.

"What's bizarre is for an assistant doing this without checking federal court, without checking with her boss or calling our people," Sepulveda said. "I would like to know what motivated her to do this."

ACLU representative Gary Peck of Las Vegas said Kroll hung up after he asked her who authorized the letter.