Attorneys apply for two District Court spots

Monday, Feb. 25, 2002 | 9:23 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- When it holds its interviews in late March, the state Judicial Selection Commission will be seeing the same faces applying to succeed two District Court judges in Clark County.

Sixteen lawyers applied to the commission by the deadline Friday to replace District Judge James Mahan, who was appointed a federal district judge. Fourteen of the 16 had applied the previous week to take over for District Judge Stephen Huffaker, who is retiring.

The only new applicants are private attorneys Joseph Hong, 31, and Robert Nersesian, 44, both of Las Vegas. They are going only for Mahan's job.

Those who applied for both jobs include Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Jennifer Togliatti, 34, and Municipal Judges Michelle Leavitt, 36, and Jessie E. F. Walsh, 43. Lawrence J. O'Neale, 55, of the Clark County district attorney's office has also submitted his application.

Private lawyers applying include Nancy Allf, 45; Kenneth Cory, 58, Carolyn Ellsworth, 46; Steven Glade, 53; Mathew Harter, 35; Susan Johnson, 42; Aurora Maskall, 38, Michael Mills, 45; Troy Peyton, 41 and Sandra Smagac, 33.

They will be required to fill out answers to 50 questions including their experience, the areas of law practice and their community involvement.

The selection commission has nine people, headed by Chief Justice William Maupin. Of the nine, two are temporary appointments for this selection. They are Anna Peterson, named by Gov. Kenny Guinn, and Bernard Zadrowski, appointed by the Nevada State Bar.

Comments on the qualifications of the applicants should be sent to Ron Titus, commission secretary, Administrative Office of the Courts, Supreme Court Building, 201 South Carson St., Suite 250, Carson City, Nevada 89701.

A date for the oral interviews by the selection commission will be set later. The commission will narrow down its selection to three finalists for each position. Guinn will make the final choices.