DISTRICT COURT DEPT. 11

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

The District Court Department 11 race is a rematch pitting the woman who was appointed to succeed Michael Douglas and a man who was a finalist for Douglas' seat.

Elizabeth "Betsy" Gonzalez was appointed by Gov. Kenny Guinn to succeed Douglas, who became a Supreme Court justice. Gonzalez, 43, who received her law degree from the University of Florida, focused on real estate and personal injury defense during 20 years in private practice.

Gonzalez, who won 34.6 percent of the primary vote, said because so many of the department's cases are civil, her background makes her well qualified.

"Two-thirds of the cases in Clark County are civil, and in the past 20 years I have been a civil trial lawyer handling some of the most complicated civil issues out there," Gonzalez said. "I feel I bring a unique perspective to the backup that can occur in handling civil cases."

Gonzalez said in talking to voters, the majority of the questions people ask focus on "how we can make the court system better."

Gonzalez is the former president of Clark County Legal Services' board and a former member of the Eighth Judicial District Bench Bar Committee on Pro Bono.

Additionally Gonzalez has served on the Clark County Legal Services board, which now coordinates pro bono services for the county. Until recently she served as a member of the Nevada Commission on Ethics. In addition, she served as a member of the state Supreme Court's Jury Improvement Commission.

Davidson, 50, who got his law degree from the University of Arizona, has served as an assistant district attorney supervising 130 prosecutors, was a Supreme Court settlement judge, a Juvenile Court hearing master and a small-claims hearing master. He has 25 years experience in criminal and civil jury trials.

In 2002 Davidson was the Democratic candidate for Clark County district attorney, which he lost to David Roger.

Davidson won 22.3 percent of the primary vote.

Davidson said the key issue that voters must confront is which candidate has "more depth and breadth of experience" in law. He said his background in both criminal and civil makes him more qualified.

"The difference between the experience the candidates have is the key concern," Davidson said. "Especially when one has 25 years' experience from both sides of the law and the other does not."

Although Davidson concedes the department is dominated by civil case, he said that can change.

Davidson said if he is elected judge, he has the experience required to determine which criminals should receive probation and which should go to prison for the rest of their lives.