Supreme Court: Halverson, three other judges must run for reelection

By Cy Ryan

Thursday, July 3, 2008 | 3:07 p.m.

CARSON CITY – The four district judges including the embattled Elizabeth Halverson, who won election in 2006 to newly created positions in Clark County, will have to run this year for reelection.

The Nevada Supreme Court rejected the petition of Halverson that the judges should have received six year terms in 2006, rather than two years.

The court said the Nevada Constitution allows the Legislature to create judicial positions with initial terms of less than six years. It said this permits the newly elected judge to be on the same election cycle as the other district judges generally.

The Constitution sets the election terms of district judges at six years. But the court said the Legislature has the power to create new judgeships with terms of less than six years.

Halverson sought an order from the Supreme Court to prevent the Secretary of State and the Clark County Registrar of Voters from holding an election this year on the four judge positions created by the 2005 Legislature.

Halverson also faces a hearing Aug. 4 before the Judicial Discipline Commission on a 14 count complaint that accuses her of mistreating and sexually harassing her staff, falling asleep during court hearings and by talking to the jury without informing the attorneys or parties involved.

She is also accused of refusing to cooperate with Chief Judge Kathy Hardcastle in administering the court and also of requiring a law clerk to administer a sworn oath to your husband Ed Halverson so you could question him if he had completed certain tasks at their home.