Las Vegas Justice Court Department 9

Thursday, Aug. 19, 2004 | 8:30 a.m.

Eight candidates are vying to become justice of the peace in the newly created Las Vegas Justice Court Department 9.

Liz Hatcher, Charles Michalek, Deanne Rymarowicz, Joseph Sciscento, Bernie Zadrowski, Michael Federico, Joe Bonaventure and Fernando Guzman will appear on the primary ballot for the spot. All are or have been lawyers.

The top two candidates will face off in the general election.

The candidates basically agreed on the top issue, saying that streamlining the court to reduce backlogged cases is vital.

The cap on civil cases filed in Justice Court is to increase from $7,500 to $10,000 next year, and that means the amount of civil filing will increase.

Michalek, who turns 34 on Aug. 25, said "the issue for me is the civil side. There are some people around the community who feel more attention needs to be paid to the civil side of Justice Court."

Rymarowicz, 35, also raised the civil-case issue.

"In researching this position, what I have discovered is over 57 percent of cases now filed in Justice Court are civil in nature, from personal injury to small-business claims," Rymarowicz said.

Sciscento, 39, said that he has experience in both civil and criminal cases.

"In 15 years I've done death penalty cases, was attorney of record before the Supreme Court ... I've had big civil cases and smaller cases," he said.

Zadrowski, 38, said his experience set him apart, because he practices law in Justice Court every day and has for the past seven years.

"As the issues come up, I'll be able to rule on them expeditiously, and that's the kind of experience you need in Justice Court, especially when you consider the huge case loads," Zadrowski said.

Federico, 33, said "many civilian and public witnesses such as police officers are stuck in courtroom waiting to see if the case will be resolved or not. I'd like to implement a program to give more notice ... so people don't waste time waiting for a case that won't go to trial."

Guzman, 55, said his experience as a juvenile hearing master is a key qualification.

"I pass judgment on people in cases that come before me," he said. "I've acquired what I believe is expected of people on the bench, quote, judicial demeanor."

Bonaventure, 28, focused on Justice Court's role in the criminal justice system: "It is where criminal cases are first brought to court," he said.

"Consistency and efficiency at the Justice Court level is necessary to ensure fair and equal treatment of all individuals," he said.

Hatcher, 50, also focused on the need for efficiency, and focused on her experience. "I have practiced law for 21 years and I have handled misdemeanor trials and capital cases," she said.