Attorney general candidate Adam Laxalt ‘train wreck’ as lawyer, records show

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014 | 6:52 p.m.

Adam Laxalt, a candidate for Nevada attorney general, gave himself “glowing” assessments as a private attorney.

But his supervisors said his work was “sloppy,” called him a “train wreck” and suggested a salary freeze and “possible termination,” according to notes from Laxalt's performance review meeting for 2011-12 with the firm Lewis Roca.

The Las Vegas Sun obtained an image of Laxalt's review this afternoon. The document was first reported by Jon Ralston.

In a July TV interview with "Nevada Newsmakers," Laxalt was asked about his private practice experience and said: "In the case of Lewis and Roca, I've had nothing but great success at Lewis and Roca."

Robert Uithoven, Laxalt's campaign consultant, responded to the statement by email:

“The improperly and perhaps illegally leaked document today is not an evaluation that Adam Laxalt has ever seen before, and its authenticity as an official evaluation is clearly in question. Adam has been in touch with the firm this afternoon and he has been told that the process of authentication is currently underway. However, this document purporting to be an official evaluation was never given to Adam Laxalt. We will brief you with more information as soon as we have it.”

Uithoven also provided a letter from Lewis Roca that said Laxalt was "eligible to return to the Firm after the election, should you choose to do so."

Laxalt, a Republican, is running against Democrat Ross Miller in the Nov. 4 election to represent Nevada as the state's top attorney.

Laxalt previously served in the Navy as a prosecutor and legal adviser. His grandfather, Paul, served as a Republican U.S. senator from Nevada and also as governor and lieutenant governor.