Three Nevada Supreme Court justices file for re-election

Tuesday, May 2, 2000 | 10:07 a.m.

line By Cy Ryan SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Chief Justice Bob Rose and Justice Myron Leavitt were bitter political rivals in the past, but they joined as a team Monday to file for re-election to the Nevada Supreme Court.

Rose, Leavitt and Justice Nancy Becker appeared at the secretary of state's office together to formally jump into the race for six-year terms.

Rose, 60, said this "shows we're getting along." Leavitt, 69, said it "shows harmony." Becker said, "We work well together, but we don't always agree."

Leavitt and Rose faced each other in elections in 1988 and 1994, with Rose coming out the winner both times after a spirited campaign that included name calling and allegations of misconduct.

All three served as District Court judges in Clark County before election to the high court. Rose will be seeking a third six-year term and Leavitt and Becker are after re-election to a second term, after their first election two years ago to a two-year term.

Rose and Becker said they had $100,000 in the bank to finance their campaign, while Leavitt said he has collected $130,000.

In light of controversy over death penalty cases, the justices were asked if they should not examine those appeals more closely. Recently the court overturned the death penalty of John Mazzan of Reno who had been in prison 20 years.

The death penalty has been put on hold in Illinois because of questions about innocent men being convicted.

Rose said the justices look at death penalty appeals very closely. He said there were very few cases where a death row inmate claims he is innocent.

Leavitt, who called the Mazzan case a "very unusual situation," said there are many safeguards to protect the innocent.

Becker said the Mazzan case involved additional evidence being developed. It showed the prosecution withheld evidence that may have helped clear Mazzan of the stabbing death of Richard Minor Jr. in 1978. There are no similar cases before the court now, she said.

Rose served four years as Washoe County district attorney, was elected lieutenant governor for one term and then spent two years as a District Court judge in Clark County before his election to the Supreme Court.

Leavitt has been a justice of the peace in Las Vegas, a Clark County commissioner, a Las Vegas city commissioner, lieutenant governor and served as a District Court judge from 1984 until his election two years ago to the Supreme Court.

Becker was a deputy city attorney in Las Vegas, became the first woman elected as Municipal Court judge and was appointed to the District Court in 1989, the first woman to receive such an appointment. She was elected two years ago to the Supreme Court when its membership was expanded from five to seven.