9th Circuit Justice Hug retires

Friday, Nov. 2, 2001 | 11:06 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Judge Procter Hug is retiring from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after 24 years on the bench, four of them as the chief judge.

Hug of Reno will take senior status, meaning he will still take part in some cases. He submitted his letter of resignation to President Bush Thursday.

In one of his latest rulings, Hug, 71, was in the minority of a 2-1 decision involving efforts by the Department of Energy to get water for a proposed nuclear dump at Yucca Mountain. He sided with the state's position that this was a state issue, not one for the federal courts at this point. But he was out-voted.

When he was chief judge, he led the successful fight against a proposal in Congress to split up the 9th Circuit, the largest district in the nation.

Prior to being named to the court by President Jimmy Carter in 1977, Hug served on the state Board of Regents for more than 10 years, which included a stint as chairman from 1969 to 1972. He also served as deputy attorney general and general counsel for the university system from 1972 to 1976.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., by tradition, makes a recommendation to President Bush on a successor to Hug.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Hug was a "man of unquestionable character and integrity who has served Nevada and this country with distinction."