Nevada Supreme Court sees big changes

CARSON CITY -- Nevada's Supreme Court formally expanded to seven members - three of them women - as new justices were sworn into office on Monday.

In addition to expanding from five justices, new rules will allow the high court to decide many of its cases by meeting in three-justice panels. One will meet in Las Vegas and the other in Carson City.

Among those sworn in Monday was Justice Miriam Shearing, who in 1992 became the first woman to win a seat on the Supreme Court.

Also taking their oaths of office were former District Judges Deborah Agosti of Washoe County and Nancy Becker and Myron Leavitt of Clark County.

Becker and Leavitt each won new court seats, and will have to run again in two years. Agosti won a six-year post, replacing retiring Justice Charles Springer.

The court membership has been increased and members assigned to panels in a move to dispose of appeals more rapidly. The court has a backlog of more than 2,300 unresolved cases.

Just 10 years ago the Supreme Court finished 1,000 cases a year, keeping up with the new appeals filed by lawyers. But with Nevada's growing population, the number of cases before the Supreme Court has doubled.

About 2,000 appeals will be filed with the court this year, and Chief Justice Bob Rose expects the number of appeals to reach 4,000 in 10 years.

In his comments at Monday's swearing-in ceremony, Rose said he has high hopes for the court - because of its expanded size and because of the quality of the new justices.

"Today, the cavalry has arrived," he said.

The praise included Leavitt, who lost two bitter Supreme Court races to Rose, in 1988 and 1994. Leavitt also ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1982.

Leavitt, a district court judge in Las Vegas for more than 13 years, also served as Nevada's lieutenant governor, a Las Vegas city councilman, a Clark County commissioner and justice of the peace.

Leavitt wrapped up his comments at his swearing-in by saying, "Now, if you'll just excuse me, I've been waiting 10 years for this - I want to go sit on that bench."

Becker served 10 years as a municipal and District Court judge, and led the effort to create a domestic violence advocacy program.

As a lower court judge, she also fought for passage of the bond issue to build a new jail in downtown Las Vegas and fund services for abused and neglected children.

Agosti was elected to the District Court in 1984 and was twice re-elected without opposition. She was chief judge in 1990 and district court judge of the year in 1997.

She also was a justice of the peace in Reno in 1983 and 1984 before her election to District Court.

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