Young won’t run for re-election

Friday, Nov. 2, 2001 | 11:15 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Supreme Court Justice Cliff Young said Thursday that he would not run for re-election when his term expires next year.

Young, who celebrates his 79th birthday on Nov. 7, will have completed 18 years on the Supreme Court when he steps down in January 2003.

Prior to serving on the court, Young was a member of the state Senate for 12 years, representing Washoe County.

Young, a Republican and a Reno lawyer, was elected to Congress in 1952, when Nevada had only one member in the House of Representatives. He was re-elected in 1954 but was by defeated Democrat Alan Bible when he tried in 1956 for a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Young was scheduled to become chief justice of the court next year under a rotation plan. As a consequence of Young's decision, Chief Justice Bill Maupin will serve for a second year.

Under the Nevada Constitution the chief justice must be one of the justices whose elected term ends at the upcoming election cycle. The terms of both Maupin and Young expire at the end of 2002.

The original agreement was for Maupin to have the chief justice's job for one year, and for Young to have it in 2002.

"I believe this would be the best way for the Supreme Court to reach its goals," said Young. "Chief Justice Maupin has been effective in dealing with current, pressing issues, and he should continue to pursue those matters."

Young will remain as vice chief justice.

He was first elected to the court in 1984.