Las Vegan Jones may be named federal judge

Suzanne Struglinski

Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003 | 10:50 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- The Senate may soon decide if U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Clive Jones, a Las Vegas resident, will become a federal district judge for Nevada.

Jones and several other federal judicial nominees appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee today, where Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, commended and then questioned them about their abilities to serve the federal court.

"You're all qualified," Hatch said as the hearing concluded. "I will do everything in my power to get you confirmed as soon as possible."

Hatch asked Jones what skills he has mastered while sitting on the bankruptcy bench for 20 years in Nevada.

"Two decades have taught me a lot," Jones said, "and I consider the most important to be temperance."

He said his bankruptcy court experience has allowed him to gain great perspective in analyzing opinions for appeals cases and become a "long listener."

Sens. John Ensign, R-Nev. and Harry Reid, D-Nev., spoke in support of Jones' nomination.