Editorial: Judging the judges

Friday, July 21, 2006 | 7:47 a.m.

Nevada's system for investigating and resolving complaints against judges is drawing criticism from those who say it moves too slowly and operates too often in secret.

According to a story Wednesday by the Las Vegas Sun, the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline, which investigates complaints against judges, can take two years or more to resolve a single complaint. And unless the commission ends up charging a judge for his or her misconduct, the outcomes of complaints are secret.

The commission's process was examined in an in-depth investigation by the Los Angeles Times that was published in June. One commissioner told Sun reporter Sam Skolnik that he and other panelists "are feeling the heat" from the Times series, but he disagreed with suggestions that the commission is slow to do its job.

But, as the Sun reported Wednesday, some cases can languish for months or even years. For example, a Family Court hearing master accused in August 2004 of humiliating a 16-year-old defendant wasn't reprimanded until two months ago. Currently, 57 cases are pending before the judicial commission, some of which are at least a year old, the Sun reports. Part of the problem is staffing - only two people are employed to assist the panel in its work.

A measure that would have limited the investigations to six months died in the Nevada Senate last year. But the Legislature must rework the judicial oversight system and reduce the amount of time it takes to reprimand errant judges. No citizen should have to wait two years for a resolution. No judge should have to work under a shadow for half of his or her term. And all decisions should be made public, not just when deemed "serious." Misconduct by judges is serious, and whether it results in any action or punishment is something the public has a right to know.