Lawyer gets long-sought seat on District Court

Kim Smith and Cy Ryan

Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2000 | 10:42 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Las Vegas lawyer Allan Earl has finally achieved his goal of becoming a district judge in Clark County.

Gov. Kenny Guinn today selected Earl to succeed the late District Judge Gary Redmon.

Earl, 59, has applied for appointment to a district judge's position four other times. He was under consideration twice for a federal judgeship and was a finalist twice for a U.S. Magistrate post.

Last week Guinn interviewed finalists Earl, Kenneth Cory and Philip Kohn. His office confirmed today he has chosen Earl, who has been a lawyer since 1968, practicing mostly civil law.

After he was selected as a finalist last month, Earl said he believes in treating people the way he likes to be treated, in fairness.

"I understand what a judge should be and I know what kind of judges I like to appear before," Earl said last month after being selected a finalist.

Earl, a third-generation Nevadan, described his mood as "somber" this morning.

"I am very reflective," Earl said. "It's going to be an incredible change. I've been an advocate for 30 years, and now I have to change and become impartial. The gravity of what I've gotten myself into is beginning to hit me. But this is something I've wanted for a long time, and I've thought a great deal about what a grave responsibility it is."

Earl graduated from the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California at Berkeley in 1968. His father, Rulon, 90, and his uncle, Marion, were attorneys as well and practiced law together for nearly 50 years.

"My father and uncle had what I believe to be the longest continuous legal partnership in Southern Nevada," Earl said.

John Mowbray, president-elect of the Nevada State Bar Association, was not surprised by the decision.

"Allan Earl is a very well-respected attorney who comes from a very long line of distinguished lawyers," Mowbray said. "I think he's a credit to his family, our community, the bench and the bar."

Mowbray, who has known Earl 32 years, said Earl's background as a trial attorney bodes well for his time on the bench.

Earl said he spent 75 minutes talking with Guinn on Friday, and not just about the judgeship.

"I absolutely loved (the interview)," Earl said. "The governor was very open, and we talked a great deal about the state of Nevada and his visions for the economic growth and development of the state."

The governor told him how much he respected the other two candidates, too, Earl said.

"He told me he couldn't win, but that he couldn't lose either, because all three of us were so qualified," Earl said.

When told of the news this morning, Kohn, who is Clark County's Special Public Defender, said he was happy for Earl.

"I think he'll be a great judge," Kohn said.

Cory could not be reached for comment this morning.