Bennett-Haron sees longtime dream come true in JP post

Tuesday, July 16, 2002 | 9:53 a.m.

New Justice of the Peace Karen Bennett-Haron has wanted to be a judge since she worked as a law clerk for District Judge Tom Foley straight out of Texas Southern University law school.

But she never thought she would make it "because there was nobody that looked like me," said Bennett-Haron, the first black woman to serve as a judge in the state's justice system.

Now a month into her new job presiding over Department 7, Bennett-Haron hopes she will be the first of many minorities to serve in the justice system.

"It's unfortunate that we are talking about a first in 2002. I hope there is a second and a third and so on," Bennett-Haron said Monday. "I hope it brings a new perspective for Nevada people to look beyond color and gender to skills and qualifications."

Bennett-Haron was appointed by the Clark County Commission on May 7 to fill the seat of Jennifer Togliatti, who replaced District Judge James Mahan after he was appointed to the federal bench.

Bennett-Haron was formally sworn in Friday as judge to what she calls the people's court. She was sworn in by District Judge Lee Gates.

Gates' wife, County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates, said she proposed Bennett-Haron for the vacancy because of her experience in front of the bench as a criminal defense attorney and as legal counsel for the Las Vegas Housing Authority.

"I just felt she would be a natural for the position," Atkinson Gates said.

Justice Court is often the first and last stop for most Las Vegas residents, Bennett-Haron said.

"It's a rubber meets the road kind of courtroom," Bennett-Haron said. "It's the people's court, where everyday people first become acquainted with the judicial system."

She said she always tries to "stand on the side of right," as her mentor, Judge Gates says, as she looks at each individual case. Gates has helped her adjust during her first month on the bench, Bennett-Haron said.

"It's very different from practicing law, when you are standing on the other side of the bench," she said.