SUN ENDORSEMENTS:

Supreme Court needs experience on the bench

Justice Gibbons, Judge Schumacher are the best picks for the state’s high court

Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008 | 2:07 a.m.

Nevada Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Gibbons is up for reelection this year to seat D, and he has proved himself to be a worthy and able judge.

Gibbons is working on several fronts to increase efficiency in the courts and to improve the overall reputation of the judiciary, which has been a difficult task, given some of the terrible news made by judges this year.

Gibbons, however, has always enjoyed an excellent reputation as a judge who knows the law and applies it fairly. He spent six years as a judge in District Court in Clark County before winning election to the Supreme Court in 2002, where he has performed admirably.

He has been cited by other judicial candidates as the type of judge they would like to emulate, which is the highest form of praise. Gibbons has been an asset to the Nevada judiciary and a strong addition to the Supreme Court. He deserves to be reelected. The Sun endorses Mark Gibbons.

In the other Supreme Court race on the ballot, attorney Kris Pickering and Judge Deborah Schumacher are vying for seat B, which opened with Justice William Maupin’s retirement.

Both candidates are well qualified, but Schumacher is the clear choice.

She has served as a Family Court judge in Washoe County since 1997, and before that, she handled civil litigation and appellate work at large law firms in San Francisco and Reno.

On the bench, Schumacher has been a leader in a program to improve the efficiency of the courts.

Pickering, who practices as a civil litigator, has tried to minimize Schumacher’s judicial experience by saying it is limited by being in Family Court. But Family Court is a state District Court, and it is a particularly difficult assignment, with the task of applying the law to emotional and complex cases. As a judge, Schumacher makes daily decisions that affect regular people’s lives, property and freedom. That kind of experience is vital for a Supreme Court justice.

Schumacher has the right combination of experience, skill and ability to be a good justice. The Sun endorses Deborah Schumacher.

Discussion: 3 comments so far…

By SchreinertMom

10/13/08 at 11:13 a.m.

Suggest removal

I'm so pleased that the Sun has endorsed Judge Schumacher. She is a very dedicated, intelligent and thoughtful judge. Her adherence to the law and her sound judgement will be assets to the Nevada Supreme Court. It is crucial that the Justices on the Supreme Court have had previous experience as a judge.
By Equalobserver

10/13/08 at 4:16 p.m.

Suggest removal

I agree with SchreinertMom when she says that it is crucial that the Justices have previous experience as a judge. I am disappointed that the challenger to Justice Gibbons, Thomas Christensen, was completely ignored in The Sun article. How can a reader make an informed decision when The Sun simply picks a side without any reasoning or analysis? I am familiar with Mr. Christensen's experience as a Supreme Court Settlement Judge, a Short-Trial Judge and Arbitrator in Nevada. Unless a voter has had personal experience with Thomas Christensen how will the voter become informed? Surely not by The Sun.
By chscheermom

10/14/08 at 1:47 p.m.

Suggest removal

I agree with equalobserver and I don't see why you would endorse Justice Gibbons when he is the last Judge remaining on the bench to support the disastrous decision throwing out the constitutional requirement of a 2/3 majority to raise taxes. In that decision Justice Gibbons demonstrated his tenancy to disregard the will of the people of Nevada. It would be nice if the Sun would find out Thomas Christensen's position on these issues so the people of Nevada can make an informed decision.