Incumbent, attorney vie for LV judgeship

Jace Radke

Friday, March 23, 2001 | 10:57 a.m.

Voters will choose between an incumbent who says she has accelerated waiting periods in her court and a challenger who says he will eliminate layers of hearings if elected to a Las Vegas municipal judgeship on April 3.

Betsey Kolkowski was appointed by the Las Vegas City Council to replace retiring Judge Seymore Brown in June, and attorney Bill Henderson has decided to run against her after it appeared she would be unopposed.

Department 2 mainly functions as a traffic court, and Kolkowski has made efforts to shorten wait times for those with moving violations.

"We were having 400 people a day who had been cited for things like not having their insurance with them when they were pulled over," Kolkowski said. "They'd wait and then they'd get before a judge to show their insurance, and we'd dismiss it. That can be taken care of at the front counter."

For those that don't want to contest minor traffic violations, Kolkowski says that the service windows get them in and out faster.

The clerks have an effective schedule at the window, and Kolkowski estimates the wait at the service windows at between 15 and 30 minutes. The judges only see about 10 people a session, instead of 100, Kolkowski said.

Henderson says he would like to see municipal court modeled closer to justice court when it comes to minor traffic cases. At justice court people who decide not to contest the charge usually have the fine cut and aren't as likely to have points put on their license, Henderson said.

"The way the court is being conducted is unacceptable," Henderson said. "It's a people's court, and it has to be treated that way. I want to get those minor tickets reduced and make sure points aren't put on licenses. There is no reason for those involved in minor violations where no one is hurt, and it's not reckless to pay large fines and have their insurance go up."

In Henderson, Robert A. Willis is challenging Judge Ken Proctor for his municipal seat.

Municipal Judge Warren Van Landschoot, a former North Las Vegas homicide detective, will face three challengers on April 3. Richard J. Melson, Lewis J. Gazda and Aaron Tippetts are running for the North Las Vegas judgeship.