- Quickdraw McLaw
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The Las Vegas “mainstream” media has all the results from the big races covered if you are interested in those (I’m sure we’ll be hearing from them endlessly about Hutchison vs. Flores for the coveted position of lieutenant governor). We’re here to talk about the results of the Clark County judicial races!
Dept. 2
Richard Scotti easily made it into the general election while a mere 1500 votes pushed John Glenn Watkins in ahead of Bill Skupa.
Dept. 22
Judge Susan Johnson dominated her competition to give herself a chance to remain on the bench, while Jacob Hafter’s recent publicity may have helped his cause with name familiarity since he beat Bruce Gale by roughly 1500 votes.
Dept. 24
Jim Crockett and Joe Hardy, Jr. made it clear they are the top two contenders for this seat on the bench. This promises to be a hard fought battle this fall.
Dept. 28
Although it wasn’t a particularly strong showing, Judge Ron Israel is moving on to the fall election with contender Susan Bush.
Dept. B
To quote NewlyMintedAttorney, this Department is a cluster, but Linda Marquis and Joseph A. Scalia, II garnered enough votes to pull away from the pack.
Dept. C
Rebecca Burton made a strong showing and will face off against John Hall “Jack” Howard, Jr. this fall.
Dept. J
In what was surely a surprise for Judge Kenneth Pollock, he got enough votes to make into the general election behind Rena Hughes. This will be an interesting race to watch this fall, but Hughes will definitely have some momentum.
Dept. L
Despite the campaign against Judge Jennifer Elliot that started last fall with the announcement of Lisa Willardson’s candidacy, she managed to secure a spot in the general election facing off against Paul “Mitch” Gaudet.
Dept. P
Judge Sandra Pomerenze will be facing off against Nathan Gibbs this fall in what is another potential race for a sitting judge to lose her seat.
Dept. T
In this department, we finally got our first upset of the night. Judge Gayle Nathan failed to get enough votes to put her ahead of her opponents, so she will be a lame duck judge this fall while Lisa M. Brown (a former judge known as Lisa Kent who was ousted with a very low performance rating) faces off against Maria Maskall.
What do you think? Any of these outcomes surprise you? Are all these races a toss-up (no) or are there some candidates who are almost guaranteed wins (yes-Johnson, Marquis, etc)? Did we learn anything from this primary that should be noted for next time (yes, don’t run in a department against 7 other candidates if you want a good shot at winning)? Any explanations for the vote tallies for the unopposed judges (Judge Togliatti got the most votes, followed by Judge Bell)?
As an attorney who makes infrequent appearances in Family Court, I will be doing everything I can to spread the word to get votes out for Nathan Gibbs (Dept. P) and Rena Hughes (Dept. J). It's not so much a vote of confidence for either of those candidates, but at this point, anything is better than Judge Pollock and Judge Pomerenze. Worst judges I have ever appeared before. It's also good to see Gayle Nathan will not be re-elected.
If I had any money, I would devote it to getting rid of Judge Pulverize, I mean Pomrenze.
Umm, Marquis and Scalia suck. I will be using peremptory challenges in that department.
Scalia is an A'hole to his own clients, and only out for that $ . I had my personal experiences with lawyer's. This is one you should not vote in.
It's important to remember that the general election is a different beast with a lot more people voting. Name recognition becomes even more important.
Do I understand correctly that if a candidate gets more than 50% in the primary they are uncontested in the general?
No, that's not correct. For non-partisan offices, e.g. judges, if there are 3 or more candidates, they have a primary, and the top two vote-getters proceed to the general election. If they are running uncontested, they show up in the Primary election, and if they get one vote, they're elected (except for the Supremes, who always have to go to the General election, uncontested or not).
No. See NRS 293.260(6). If there are more candidates than twice the number to be elected, then they appear on the primary ballot and the candidates receiving the most votes (not to exceed the number to be elected) go on to the general election. In other words, top two vote getters are on the ballot in November.
Actually, 9;45 is correct as to Municipal Elections, in odd numbered years. In such elections, if you receive over 50% of the vote, regardless of the number of candidates, you are determined to be elected in the Primary–not so in County races. Also, in Municipal Elections, unlike County races, if only two individuals are in a judicial race, rather than that race waiting for the General Election, it is disposed of on the Primary Election. So, the only time we even wind up with judicial races at the Municipal General Election, is when in the Municipal Primary, three or more people run for the post, and no one cracks 50%. So, if for example, Judge Susan Johnson and Judge Israel were to receive the totals they just received, but it was a Municipal Election, they would be declared elected, along with the others who cracked 50%, and they would not proceed to the General. But, again, County races are different, so all these candidates, in the top two, proceed to the General, regardless of % received.
What happens if Hutchinson gets elected? can he still run H&S? can they use his name?
Lieutenant Governor is a part time position, which, other than setting him up to take over as Governor if the supposed "master plan" materializes, doesn't really do that much. H&S can keep the name unless/ until he becomes Governor.
Where in the Nevada Constitution or NRS does it state that LG is a "part-time" position?
I'm not your associate – do your own legal research.
If 11:09 is same person as 9:59, you have no authority for the 9:59 statement. Nothing in the Nevada Constitution or NRS states that the LG is a part-time position.
wah!
The outcome in Dept. B just goes to show you why people deserve what they get. After the general election, when Dept. B becomes the new train wreck of Family Court, please remind everyone who decides to complain that they should do their homework to determine the most qualified candidate(s) and vote for those qualified candidates. Not, just pick a candidate because she has a pretty picture, campaign ads on T.V., or he has the same name as a Supreme Court Justice. When the next Judge in Dept. B, is working hard to "keep families" together that don't want to be together any longer (because that sounds good to the average stupid voter during election season), and the Judge doesn't understand family court because they've never practiced there — all the poor rulings that will come from that Judge are the collective failure of the population at large. Unfortunately, those of us who use a more educated approach will have to suffer as well along with these people in the community who elect someone who is not qualified. Passing over a candidate like Shann Winesett with many years of experience of practicing family law in this community is a tragedy. Thank you, Shann Winesett for putting 110% effort into campaigning and putting yourself out there during the process. You did the best you could, I hope you decided to run again in the future, and that next time the voters will pull their heads out.
Poor rulings from "that judge"? Hmmmmm. You probably also think that due to her long track record in family court Gayle Nathan is a paragon of well reasoned and deliberate rulings.
Why did two court masters run against each other in that race!?!? They obviously split the votes of people famliar with their work in family court and knocked themselves both out.
I'm calling whatever of those two masters put in second (after the first master) a MORON! You deserved to lose because your'e an idiot. The master who put in first should be allowed to slap him or her repeatedly. Every day. For a year.
Hearing Masters cannot run against a sitting judge because they technically report to all the DC judges. They both ran because dept B was vacant and Depth C didn't become vacant until the very end of the deadline or after (can't remember when Jones withdrew exactly).
Fine. But my point is that they should have made a gentleman/woman's agreement about who would run. They had to know they would be pulling from the same pool of votes.
If elected, Linda Marquis would immediately go to the top of the list as hottest female judge in Clark County. Linda's not exceptionally hot; but the competition isn't all that stiff.
Heh heh, he said "stiff.'' Heh heh.
Bonus points, he (I am making an assumption here) used "hot" and "stiff" in the same sentence. Heh, heh, heh.
CONGRATULATIONS, Maria Maskall …I followed your campaign, I must say that you will make a great JUDGE for Family Court!
Nice post Maria
Maria Maskall will make a fine Judge for Family Court!
I expect Ken Pollock will win in the general election. Ken Pollock was not part of the club that influences and runs family court. This is the reason for the survey results. Rena Hughes is a decent attorney with a lot of personal problems. Not sure she would be a better choice overall.
Thanks for that, Ken.
It may be Andre Haynes with the non-sense above. Andre is Ken's Public Relations guy.
Ladies and Gentlemen; Let's please vote and make Honorable Joseph Scalia an Honourable Judge; He has an extremely intellectual mind; is balanced/dedicated/compassionate/caring and with highest integrity. Therefore, he will make a very fine Judge and, above all he will serve the Justice and Nevada State and all mankind with fairness and hard work. Please note there is no stake for me whatsoever nor I live in Nevada or America nor met Honorable Scalia in person. That said, however, l am proud to say as I have dedicated many years in assessing Attorney's and Legal System and the rights and the wrongs. After all we are all just human so can have flaws but I believe we mankind can make a difference in our rapidly changing world to make better and safer. Furthermore, I believe the credit should be given to those that deserve it despite being silent. This is the sole reason I feel confident that Honorable Scalia should be given an opportunity to become an Honourable Judge in Nevada. Thank you!!
Judge Pollock grins when he makes a particularly bad decision like a chubby toddler that just pooped in his diaper.
Wow, I thought it was just gas.
It's time to take the trash out of Family Court Department N. The Dishonorable Judge Mathew Harter had me, a hard working, taxpaying, 42 year resident of Las Vegas thrown in County Jail for not "dragging my daughter kicking and screaming if need be" to visits with the paternal grandparents that she feared! He refused to interview my daughter himself. After her father, Andy Flaherty, former President of Focus Property Group committed suicide by jumping off a 39th floor balcony at Turnberry Towers, the DISHONORABLE Judge Mathew Harter further traumatized my daughter by having her mother thrown in jail. I was in lock down with a woman who had blood in her hair from beating her sister-in-law with a claw hammer. She was released on bail within 24 hours; I was forced to serve my entire sentence. Mathew Harter is a narcissistic bully who should never be allowed to harm another innocent child! Way to go, taking hardened criminals like me off the street for looking out for my child's safety. When the good, decent people of Clark County finally vote him off the bench my daughter and I will dance a very happy dance. Sonja M. Flaherty-Graff
I am sorry for the loss you and your daughter suffered.