Voters’ guide for Clark County District Court judicial races

By Ana Ley

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014 | 2 a.m.

Clark County voters have a dizzying list of options to fill their local bench of judges.

But come Election Day, almost half of their work will already be done for them.

Of the 52 judicial seat-holders up for election this year, 24 of them won in the May primary and only 28 will appear on the ballot this fall.

Here's what you need to know about the judicial races before you vote in the Nov. 4 election.

Why do we elect judges?

Voters decide who fills every judicial seat at Clark County District Court. The District Court judges preside over everything from murder cases to lawsuits to child custody battles. These 52 judges run the largest courthouse in Nevada, and they serve six-year terms.

In these nonpartisan races, it's hard for most voters to keep track of dozens of judges and their records. But Nevadans have made it clear that they want the right to choose.

In 2010, Nevada voters turned down a ballot measure that would have moved the state to a hybrid appointment-election system.

Ironically, although 432,000 people voted on the question that year, only about 360,000 made a choice in the countywide judicial elections.

How do you choose whom to vote for?

Judicial candidates rely heavily on endorsements from interest groups, word-of-mouth support from lawyers, and name recognition from roadside signs and campaign postcards.

The candidates' marketing materials typically tout where they went to school and their moral character. Ethical rules restrict much of what candidates can say.

Short of reviewing court transcripts, voters don't have many other options to vet the candidates.

Who funds their campaigns?

Attorneys and casinos typically fund judicial campaigns, although the campaigns typically don’t raise much money.

And campaign fundraising by judicial candidates is often controversial.

“Candidates have to get campaign contributions from the very people that will be appearing before them,” said Michael Bowers, a UNLV political science professor who specializes in courts and law. “It just appears unseemly.”

Why are so many incumbents unopposed?

Like in any election, it’s hard to challenge an incumbent. This is especially the case in the legal field, where judges typically aren’t challenged unless they are perceived as especially errant.

Lawyers also tend not to challenge judges as a professional courtesy. Once a judge gives up a law practice, it’s hard to restart her or his career.

Judges also tend to make less money than private attorneys do.

Are there any controversial or interesting races?

Judicial races this year have been fairly drama-free, with the exception of suspended family court judge Steven Jones, who opted out of running again after he was charged in federal court with fraud. (Jones pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and could serve more than two years in prison.)

Four other judges opted not to run: Valorie Vega, Allan Earl, James Bixler and Gloria O’Malley. Several candidates filed to run for their vacant seats.

Family Court Judge Gayle Nathan was the only incumbent who lost in the June primary.

Who is up for election?

All 52 Clark County District Court judges were up for re-election this year. Of those, 24 won their race in the spring primary. Voters will see 28 races on their ballot this fall.

A COMPLETE LIST OF THE 28 RACES

(*denotes incumbent):

DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

DEPARTMENT 2

This seat is vacant after Judge Valorie Vega stepped down.

Richard Scotti

John Watkins

DEPARTMENT 3

Michael Davidson

*Douglas Herndon

DEPARTMENT 4

*Kerry Louise Earley

Steve Smith

DEPARTMENT 5

*Carolyn Ellsworth

William Horne

DEPARTMENT 8

Christine Guerci-Nyhus

*Doug Smith

DEPARTMENT 14

*Adriana Escobar

Michael Root

DEPARTMENT 19

This seat is vacant after Judge Allan Earl stepped down.

William “Bill” Kephart

Cliff Marcek

DEPARTMENT 20

Nicholas Anthony Perrino

*Jerry Tao

DEPARTMENT 22

Jacob Hafter

*Susan Johnson

DEPARTMENT 23

Craig Friedberg

*Stefany Miley

DEPARTMENT 24

This seat is vacant after Judge James Bixler stepped down.

Jim Crockett

Joe Hardy Jr.

DEPARTMENT 25

Sean Connell

*Kathleen Delaney

DEPARTMENT 28

Susan Bush

*Ron Israel

DEPARTMENT 30

Jeffrey Rugg

*Jerry Wiese

DEPARTMENT 32

*Rob Bare

Randall Tindall

DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, FAMILY DIVISION

DEPARTMENT B

This seat is vacant after Judge Gloria O’Malley stepped down.

Linda Marquis

Joseph Scalia II

DEPARTMENT C

This seat is vacant after Judge Steven Jones stepped down.

Rebecca Burton

John Hall “Jack” Howard Jr.

DEPARTMENT D

Robert Kurth, Jr.

*Robert “Bob” Teuton

DEPARTMENT F

Denise Gentile

*William “Bill” Gonzalez

DEPARTMENT H

Keith Lyons

*Art Ritchie

DEPARTMENT I

*Cheryl Moss

Travis Shetler

DEPARTMENT J

Rena Hughes

*Kenneth Pollock

DEPARTMENT L

*Jennifer Elliott

Paul “Mitch” Gaudet

DEPARTMENT M

*William Potter

James Stuart

DEPARTMENT N

*Mathew Harter

Monti Jordana Levy

DEPARTMENT P

Nathan Gibbs

*Sandra Pomrenze

DEPARTMENT S

*Vincent Ochoa

Jason Patrick Stoffel

DEPARTMENT T

This seat is vacant after Judge Gayle Nathan lost the June primary.

Lisa Brown

Maria Maskall