DISTRICT COURT DEPARTMENT 1

Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004 | 1:13 a.m.

The District Court Department 1 race pits the man appointed in January to fill the vacant seat against a man who believes his experience should override any voter's desire to choose the incumbent.

Ken Cory, 60, was appointed in January by Gov. Kenny Guinn to replace Gene Porter, who resigned in October 2003. Cory faces Bill Henderson, 45, who has served as a truancy master and alternate hearing master in Clark County Family Court.

Cory said one of the keys to being a prudent judge is doing the homework.

"What people don't see is that judges have to take their work home at night because there simply aren't enough hours in the day," Cory said.

Cory said most voters are aware of the laws governing judicial campaigning, which limit debate about issues, and "tend not to probe as if I was running for the Assembly or Senate." Cory said most questions concern his background and experience.

Cory said presiding over the department requires not only legal experience but also the wisdom to know how to "wield great discretion."

Cory, who garnered 48.8 percent of the vote in the primary, graduated from Las Vegas High School and attended Long Beach State University and Brigham Young University, where he received his law degree.

He has been an attorney since 1971. He was a federal prosecutor and then served as deputy city attorney for Las Vegas. He was named Nevada's first full-time federal public defender in 1974 and served for six years in that position. After that he went into private practice.

In 1996 Cory ran for District Court Department 11, but lost to then-incumbent Michael Douglas, who now is a Nevada Supreme Court justice.

Henderson earned his law degree from Washburn University and has served on the executive council of the State Bar's family-law section.

Henderson has 17 years' experience in private practice, where he has handled more than 1,000 cases before the courts. He has pledged to work hard to resolve cases as promptly and efficiently as possible, helping to prevent judicial gridlock in the courts.

Henderson said his ability to run a full-time law practice and serve part-time as a Family Court alternative hearing master and truancy master "ranks him up against anyone" in experience for the the bench. He said running against an incumbent who was appointed is different then running against one who was elected.

"I think incumbency only holds power if that person has passed before the voters."

Henderson, who received 39.6 percent of the primary vote, hopes to attract the 11.5 percent of voters who cast their ballots for Greg DeNue.

Henderson said he would diligently read all legal briefs that are submitted, start court on time, be completely prepared and move cases through the system as diligently and fairly as possible.