Our choices in judicial races

Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.

Seven new seats for District Court bring well-qualified candidates

The Legislature created seven new seats on the District Court bench to help the courts eliminate a backlog of cases. The new judges will initially focus on civil cases to cut down the caseload.

In Department 26, Gloria Sturman is an impressive candidate. A former president of the state bar association, Sturman has nearly 30 years’ of experience, handles complex civil cases and has served as a justice of the peace pro tem and short-trial judge. The Sun endorses Gloria Sturman.

Nancy Allf is the best candidate in Department 27. She has been practicing in Nevada for nearly 30 years, is a former president of the state bar association and has experience as an alternate judge. She has the right experience and skills for the bench. The Sun endorses Nancy Allf.

Longtime attorneys Jack Howard and Ron Israel are running for the seat in Department 28. Both are solid attorneys and have run for office before, but Howard is the best candidate. He has a broad background in the law, and he has good experience in judicial roles, having served as a pro tem judge, a hearing officer and an arbitrator. The Sun endorses Jack Howard.

In the race for Department 29, Susan Scann is clearly the best choice. She is one of the most experienced and qualified candidates on the ballot. Scann has been practicing in Nevada for more than 30 years and has a long history of service as a judge pro tem. She would be a great addition to the bench. The Sun endorses Susan Scann.

Michael Davidson brings a wealth of experience in the race for Department 30. An attorney for more than 30 years, Davidson has the right experience for the bench — he has capably handled civil and criminal cases, worked in private practice and as a prosecutor, and has served as an arbitrator, a hearing master and a judge pro tem. The Sun endorses Michael Davidson.

Two experienced attorneys are running for Department 31, and both are strong candidates. Phil Dabney is a well-respected partner in a Las Vegas firm and is exceptionally prepared for the bench, having served for years as an arbitrator, mediator, short-trial judge and justice of the peace pro tem. Joanna Kishner, a Nevada native, works with an international law firm and is a sharp attorney with a background in corporate law. She also has judicial experience, having served as a justice of the peace pro tem and a small claims referee. Either candidate will strengthen the bench. The Sun endorses Phil Dabney and Joanna Kishner.

In Department 32, Rob Bare is running against Ellen Stoebling. Bare is the Nevada State Bar’s longtime counsel and a former military lawyer. In 2007, he spent six months as a full-time Municipal Court judge in Las Vegas. Stoebling has been practicing in Nevada for more than 25 years and brings considerable courtroom experience. She has been an arbitrator and a mediator for years. Both are well qualified. The Sun endorses Rob Bare and Ellen Stoebling.

For Family Court: Jones, Gonzalez, Ochoa and Nathan or Piazza

Family Court is a division of District Court dedicated to hearing matters involving a variety of family issues, including divorce, child custody and juvenile matters. There are four contested races on the ballot.

Steve Jones is running for re-election in Department C. Jones has served on the court since its founding in 1993 and still has a great passion for the court. In addition to his experience, he brings good ideas and energy to the position. The Sun endorses Steve Jones.

Bill Gonzalez was appointed to the seat in Department F last year and he has earned a reputation as a solid judge. Gonzalez has the right skills and temperament for the job. The Sun endorses Bill Gonzalez.

In the race for Department S, Vincent Ochoa is the clear pick. He has practiced law in Nevada for more than 30 years, and he has considerable experience in Family Court, both as an attorney and in appointed judicial roles as a commissioner. The Sun endorses Vincent Ochoa.

Two experienced attorneys are running for Department T. Gayle Nathan has been an attorney for more than 20 years and has been an alternate hearing master. She has focused her practice on family law and has a passion for it. Carl Piazza has been an attorney for 38 years and has a broad background in the law. He has also been an alternate hearing master, and has a great demeanor. Both candidates are well qualified. The Sun endorses Gayle Nathan and Carl Piazza.

Five contested races for the Las Vegas Justice of the Peace bench

Justice Courts handle a variety of civil and criminal matters, and they hold preliminary hearings to determine if there is enough evidence to send a criminal defendant to District Court for trial. There are five contested seats in Las Vegas Justice Court.

Tony Abbatangelo is running for re-election in Department 3. He has been a judge since 1993 and has a good reputation in the courtroom. He is being challenged by Janiece Marshall, an experienced attorney with an impressive resume as a civil litigator. She also has served as an arbitrator. Abbatangelo would be the clear endorsement except for the fact that in February 2009 he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge. We believe that is behind him and his otherwise good record on the bench speaks well of his ability. We also find Marshall to be qualified. The Sun endorses Tony Abbatangelo and Janiece Marshall.

Longtime prosecutor Bill Kephart is running for Department 6 and has impressive experience in the courtroom. The Sun endorses Bill Kephart.

Karen Bennett is running for re-election in Department 7. Her opponent, Robert Kurth, has solid experience, but we see no reason to replace Bennett — she has good ideas about the court and was recently elected chief judge of the Justice Court. The Sun endorses Karen Bennett.

Experienced criminal defense attorney Jim Gubler is running for Department 13 against Suzan Baucum, who spent nearly two decades running the Nevada Law Foundation. Both are good candidates and both serve as pro tem judges, but Gubler’s years of courtroom work make him the best choice. The Sun endorses Jim Gubler.

Prosecutors Conrad Hafen and Bernie Zadrowski are running for Department 14. Hafen, a prominent deputy state attorney general, has been a lawyer for more than two decades. Zadrowski has been a Clark County deputy district attorney for the last 13 years. Both men are experienced and well qualified. The Sun endorses Conrad Hafen and Bernie Zadrowski.