Editorial: Judicial candidates endorsed

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004 | 9:24 a.m.

SUPREME COURT

Judges in Nevada, from justice of the peace all the way up to the Supreme Court, are directly elected by the people. Three seats on the seven-member Supreme Court are at stake in this year's general election, all of whose members run statewide. Justice Michael Douglas, who was appointed to the court by Gov. Kenny Guinn to fill a vacancy created by the death of Justice Myron Leavitt, has drawn an opponent. Justices Deborah Agosti and Miriam Shearing, meanwhile, aren't seeking re-election, leaving two open seats that are being contested.

Washoe County District Judge Jim Hardesty, a candidate for Seat A, which has been held by Shearing for 12 years, has an impressive background. As an attorney he has had nearly 25 years of experience in the courtroom. A two-term district judge since first being elected in 1998, he has received high marks from Washoe County attorneys. Hardesty, who has been chief judge of Washoe County District Court since 2001, also understands the importance of making sure that the justice system doesn't fail Nevadans, a concern that is reflected by his service on many Supreme Court-appointed task forces. He believes that the Supreme Court should exercise leadership by identifying areas in the Nevada court system that need to be examined, such as access to justice, pro bono legal services and the increasing caseloads that judges have today. It's evident, when talking with Hardesty and reviewing his track record, that he would be well-suited for the Supreme Court. The Sun endorses Jim Hardes! ty.

Clark County District Judge Ron Parraguirre is hoping to win Seat E, which has been held by Agosti since 1998. Parraguirre has been an effective, no-nonsense district judge since his appointment in 1999 by the governor. Prior to that, Parraguirre, a fourth-generation Nevadan who comes from a prominent family with established roots in the state's legal community, had been a Municipal Court judge in Las Vegas since 1991. Attorneys across the board think highly of his effectiveness and fairness on the bench, and we believe he is someone who is ready for the next step -- as a Supreme Court justice. The Sun endorses Ron Parraguirre.

Supreme Court Justice Michael Douglas, prior to his appointment to Seat F in March by the governor, was a Clark County district judge. He was appointed in 1995 to fill a vacancy and was first elected in 1996, winning re-election in 2002. Douglas served as chief judge of the Clark County District Court from 2003 to 2004. Before he became a judge, Douglas was a deputy district attorney in the Civil Division of the Clark County District Attorney's office from 1984 to 1996. Douglas isn't the kind of justice to let politics or ideology affect his decisions. As a district judge and in the brief time he's served so far on the Supreme Court, he has proved to be a thoughtful jurist. If voters retain him, Douglas says he'd also like to explore ways that could result in civil cases being heard more quickly. The Sun endorses Michael Douglas.

DISTRICT COURT

In January the governor appointed Ken Cory as a district judge for Department 1, filling the vacancy created by District Judge Gene Porter's resignation. An attorney since 1971, Cory has an incredibly diverse legal background, including the handling of complex civil and criminal cases. In 1974 he was appointed as Nevada's first full-time federal public defender. He's been on the other side, too, serving as a federal prosecutor. More recently he was in private practice, focusing on business law and personal injury cases. District Court is fortunate to have someone of Cory's caliber serving as a judge. The Sun endorses Ken Cory.

In Department 11, Elizabeth "Betsy" Gonzalez was appointed in July by the governor to be a district judge, filling a seat vacated by Michael Douglas. She has a strong background in civil law, which serves her well in a court that handles mostly civil cases. Her opponent is Mike Davidson, the former assistant district attorney who lost his 2002 bid to be elected district attorney. Davidson has a background in civil matters, too, including being in charge of the Civil Division in the District Attorney's office. Davidson's experience in criminal law is superior to Gonzalez's, something that is relevant since judges who handle civil cases still must hear those "overflow" cases that are sent to them from the criminal courts. If the voters were to elect Davidson, we're confident he would be a good judge.

In our view, however, it's still early in Gonzalez's tenure and we believe that the stringent selection process, which is used by governors to fill judicial vacancies, is an important factor in weighing Gonzalez's candidacy. This independent peer-review process is designed to result in the best judicial candidates being considered for an appointment -- and Gonzalez recently emerged on top when the governor appointed her to the bench. We believe that Gonzalez is well qualified and has the potential to be an excellent judge. The Sun endorses Elizabeth "Betsy" Gonzalez.

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