Two Family Court judges lose

Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2004 | 11:24 a.m.

In an upset vote, Family Court Judges Bob Gaston and Robert W. Lueck, two of the three incumbents up for re-election, were defeated Tuesday by political newcomers.

The third incumbent, Gerald W. Hardcastle, won with 224,257 or 51 percent of the votes and retained his Department D seat for another six-year term. His opponent, local attorney Elizabeth Halverson, had 211,851 votes or 49 percent.

Hardcastle, 58, has served as a Juvenile and Family Court judge for 12 years and created an alternative Truancy Court program aimed at students who skip middle school classes. He said he plans to continue developing new programs to address the needs of families and children in the court system.

In the Department E race, attorney and mediator Sandra L. Pomrenze beat Lueck with 232,423, or 55 percent, to 188,821 votes, 45 percent

Pomrenze, 55, has served as a settlement judge for the Nevada Supreme Court and has been practicing law in Las Vegas for 18 years. She has advocated moving cases quickly and fairly through the legal system to reduce the stress it places on spouses and their children.

Lueck, 56, has served five years as a Family Court judge and authored the legal ethics chapter of the Nevada Family Law Manual.

Trial lawyer Stefany Ann Miley defeated Gaston 235,723 to 190,703 for 55 percent to 45 percent.

Miley, 33, helped draft a state law that allows parents to drop off an infant at a police or fire station without facing charges.

Gaston, 65, has been a judge for 12 years and is a former assemblyman. He created a program that pays for tattoo removals for youths seeking to leave gang life.