Two openings to be filled on bench

Kim Smith

Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2002 | 9:27 a.m.

Lawyers with dreams of one day wearing the robe have now two opportunities.

With the appointment of District Judge James Mahan to the federal bench and the Feb. 22 retirement of District Judge Stephen Huffaker, two seats are coming open in Clark County's District Court.

Mahan is expected to be sworn in as U.S. District Court judge later this week or early next week.

Applications are already being accepted for Huffaker's job and will likely become available for Mahan's job early next week, Clark County court administrator Chuck Short said.

The hope is that a replacement for both positions will be named at the same time, Short said.

Typically, once the 20-page application is turned in, the Nevada Supreme Court's Commission on Judicial Selection interviews applicants and submits three names to Gov. Kenny Guinn, Short said.

The governor then has 30 days to make a selection.

The commission is hoping to interview applicants for both positions in the same time period and submit a list of three names for each position to the governor, Short said.

The commission probably won't submit any names to the governor until March, Short said.

To cover the caseload until then, Huffaker will remain on the bench as a senior judge, and another semi-retired judge will oversee Mahan's calendar, Short said.

The Commission on Judicial Selection is made up of three nonattorneys who are appointed by the governor and three attorneys appointed by the State Bar and Chief Justice William Maupin. Two additional members are named for District Court nominations, one appointed by the governor and another by the State Bar.