Seven apply for Douglas’ post

Friday, May 21, 2004 | 9:21 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Seven Clark County lawyers have filed to fill the unexpired term of District Judge Michael Douglas, who was appointed to the Nevada Supreme Court.

The state Commission on Judicial Selection said it will interview the seven in Clark County June 28 and recommend three names to Gov. Kenny Guinn, who will make the final selection.

The winner would serve until November. Four of the seven have filed to run in that election, which would determine who will serve the four years remaining on Douglas' term. All of the applicants are in private practice.

They are Michael Davidson, 50; Bruce Gale, 49; Elizabeth Goff Gonzales, 43; Robert Kurth, Jr., 36; Harry Victor Peetris II, 33; Charlane Bigelow Stead, 65; and Timothy Williams, 48.

Davidson is a former assistant district attorney and top aide to former District Attorney Stuart Bell. He was the Democratic candidate in the 2002 election to succeed Bell, but lost to Republican David Roger.

Davidson, Gale, Gonzales, Kurth and Williams also filed for election to complete the final four years of Douglas' term, which the winner would do, beginning in January. The other candidate in the election is Mathew Harter, who did not apply for the appointment.

The selection commission, headed by Nevada Supreme Court Chief Justice Miriam Shearing, said each applicant has filled out an application with 50 questions asking about the applicants' education, law practice, business and community involvement, professional and personal conduct and health.

The governor must appoint a replacement within 30 days after the selection commission offers its three nominees. If the appointment is not made in that time frame, the governor is barred from making any other appointments to public office.

The commission said it welcomes public comment on the applicants, which must be submitted before June 7.