Little-known justice faces lesser-known opponents

Tom Gardner

Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2000 | 6:54 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - A state Supreme Court justice who's only slightly better known outside Clark County than her two rural challengers sought a full six-year term on Tuesday in the only contested race for the high court.

Nancy Becker was opposed by Ely attorney Jim Backus, who said voters deserved a choice, and Carson City lawyer Day Williams, who entered the race by mistake.

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Like Backus, Williams thinks incumbents should be challenged and he meant to take on Justice Myron Leavitt, but mistakenly ended up facing Becker instead. As a result, Leavitt and Justice Bob Rose have free rides in the general election.

Unlike some state contests, there is no automatic pass in contested Supreme Court contests. The top two vote-getters will appear on the November ballot, even if one gets more than half the vote Tuesday.

Becker, 45, was unopposed two years ago in her first bid for statewide office after 10 years as Clark County District Court judge. She and Leavitt won two-year terms in 1998 after the court was expanded from five justices to seven. All three candidates are seeking six-year terms this year.

Becker, who also served three years as a municipal judge and three as a prosecutor in Las Vegas, said she outshines her opponents in experience.

Backus, 58, has practiced law since 1972 and served as Eureka County district attorney for 2 1/2 years until he stepped down when a recall campaign was mounted against him.

Williams, 46, is a former photographer who began his law career less than a decade ago as a clerk for Justice Rose. In seven years of practice in Carson City, he has gained a reputation as an activist who represents low-income clients and who clashes with the establishment - particularly District Attorney Noel Waters.

He and Backus were offended that Becker accepted contributions from lawyers. Williams accepted no contributions and Backus framed the $50 check he received from friends.

Becker said her base of support includes lawyers along with labor, gambling and construction interests.

"No one is more critical than the others," she said.

"Constitutionally you cannot prohibit lawyers from contributing to judicial races or judicial candidates from accepting contributions from lawyers."

She favors judicial elections in which a candidate first runs in a contested race, then faces periodic retention elections to gauge their ongoing public approval.