Jack Frost Nipping

  • Law

  • The official announcement of retirement for Justices Douglas and Cherry was made yesterday. [RJ]
  • The Court rejected the appeal of man who fatally shot son. [Las Vegas Sun]
  • Four more Bunkerville defendants were released. [RJ]
  • Here’s a look at oral argument on gambling from yesterday. [SCOTUSblog]
  • Here’s a list of the most recorded holiday songs of all time. [Fox5Vegas]
57 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 4:15 pm

I still want that hula hoop

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 5:30 pm

Good lord. I just read the unpublished rulings on all the writ filings in the Wynn-Okada litigation and all the big firms on the copy list. It is obscene how much paper gets filed and time gets billed appeasing billionaire egos. It is full time employment for easily a dozen top-shelf lawyers billing $500+ per hour. What a waste of talent. Keeping the rich guys rich.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 6:05 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

It's good work if you can get it, right? I mean, it's somewhat justified in this case when there is literally a billion dollars on the line you don't want to hire a cut-rate attorney.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 7:27 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Three parties, at least nine firms.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 7:36 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Top shelf attorneys in Las Vegas. That’s funny.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 7:50 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

One of the writ petitions was 52 pages with 41 volumes of appendices. Another petition was 38 pages. A third was 18 pages. All of them were filed within three months of each other. Obscene.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 8:21 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Many of the attorneys involved from national firms that have pro hac'd in on the case charge in excess of $1,000 per hour. And in a grudge match between two of the wealthiest people in the world, I suppose it makes sense. But it is ultimately just about rich people fighting about money.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 9:43 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Las Vegas would have more top shelf attorneys if plaintiff lawyers didn't handle 300+ cases and defense lawyers didn't have 2000+ in billable requirements. But who needs quality legal work when it would reduce partners' profits. God forbid they earn less than 7-figures per year.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 5:47 pm

Please, I hope there are more people who run for Nevada Supreme Court. Silver I can live with. Cadish, hell no.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 6:03 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I was thinking just the opposite. Silver? Really?

anonymous
Guest
anonymous
December 5, 2017 6:12 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Not really a huge fan of either one. I hope there will be a competitive race for both seats, but I think these two are going to soak up lots of money and endorsements early on.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 6:17 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Can we write in a name for Supreme Court? I will either do that, or vote none of the above on Cadish. She used to be good, but she has become unpredictable in the past few years.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 7:13 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Silver is an unstoppable machine of money and ambition.

Cadish I think would be the far better Justice (and has a temperament perhaps better suited for the appellate bench) but is a terrible campaigner. She and Stiglich are remarkably similar. Off the bench, she is extremely meek and just could be eaten alive in a real campaign. I look at a Susan Johnson who would be very similar to Abbi but also has a personality much more suited to a competitive races. I think Johnson v. Cadish would be very similar to Saitta v. Becker where the more gregarious personality would win over the better legal mind.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 7:43 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I would go for Togliatti. I would take Johnson over Cadish, and I am a Dem. Cadish is nasty on the bench.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 8:43 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Denton. Denton. Denton…

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 8:49 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

12:43, you are speaking to me. I will volunteer for his campaign. I will support him on social media. I will give him money.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 10:02 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Has Johnson said a word about running? I dont think Denton will run against Cadish. Why do we limit the discussion to existing judges? I would support a strong civil attorney in private practice. Some inthe trench savvy would be nice at NSC

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 10:43 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Interesting idea @2:02. Who did you have in mind?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 10:53 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

We got in the trench savvy from Pickering going straight to the Supremes and, while she is clearly the most business savvy justice, on many issues she is just another rubber stamp.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 11:13 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

what about a DA? Or someone in family practice. We should have choices not just Cadish.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 11:14 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

He would never do it but can you imagine what a guy like Nick Santoro would bring to the NSC? Brains, Class, common sense. Look out for Dan Polsenberg…..

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 11:15 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Denton put his name in for appointment against Cadish. I think he would run against her.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 11:56 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Cadish and Silver won't draw any serious opposition, and perhaps no opposition at all. A few good suggestions for opponents were offered, such as Dan Polsenberg.

No doubt he is a brilliant attorney, and very highly skilled and experienced in appellate matters. But I don't believe he has ever run before and apparently has no meaningful political experience.

So, if his very first venturing into the political arena is a state-wide race against Abbi Silver,that would be really difficult. His name recognition is generally limited to the legal community, while Silver is much more broadly known. Plus she would have most of the important endorsements, and most of the money, sewed up before Dan even got started.

Before Silver spends her first nickel, Dan would need to spend $500,000 to one million just to somewhat neutralize her huge name recognition advantage and pull even with her.

So, it can't be done, and won't happen. And Dan is too smart to get involved in a fiasco of this magnitude simply because some people stroke his ego, and encourage him to get in the race because "you are so much better than her on the Law. You would make a far better justice" or whatever.

As to Denton, very interesting as he would have the connections, community roots, endorsement and financial fire power to run a campaign wherein he provides viable opposition against Silver or Cadish. But he may have no real interest in taking on a colleague. More fundamentally, although he is not old, he may be at a point in his career wherein he does not want to start an entirely new career and may not want to expend the huge commitment of energy, time and fund-raising to run a state-wide race against a very powerful and relentless opponent.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 12:04 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Aaron Ford is running for AG, does the guy even litigate? He could not even run the County convention.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 12:06 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Colleagues run against each other all the time. Delaney is not bad, or Gonzales.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 12:17 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Delaney is awful. Nice lady. Awful.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 1:04 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Cadish is the Grinch.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 1:18 am
Reply to  Anonymous

4:04 — If you have a problem with Ford, how do you feel about Laxalt?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 2:52 am
Reply to  Anonymous

I don't like either of them. I would vote for Wernicke over these two.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 5:51 am
Reply to  Anonymous

10:17, write-ins are illegal in Nevada, so good luck with that.

4:04, the county party runs the county convention; Aaron Ford is not the county party.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 6:00 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Aaron Ford had oversight of the County convention. It was a joke, so good luck with that.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 6:41 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Denton, please run. Denton's daughters, convince your dad to run.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 7:04 am
Reply to  Anonymous

10:41, you are brilliant. please, Lord, we want Denton.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 9:51 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Ford asked like 5 questions during Eglet's last trial. I don't think they had anything to do with the case. Clearly he's a litigator.

Judge Denton splits the baby too much, he can't ever pick a side.

A DA or family law attorney on the NSC bench?? Remember that Justices have to know how to actually read and analyze the law, not just copy and paste it. Case in point: Judge Kephart.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 2:11 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Cadish is up late posting all three of her pro comments, including her no one is going to take down Eglet comment. I for one know what a shifty judge you are.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 5:44 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Doubt that Denton would run with significant opposition for a state wide race. First appointed to the bench in 1998. I believe he is finishing up with three terms on the bench which is enough to retire and then to Senior Judge status or some mediation gig. I wonder if he would accept an appointment–Court of Appeals or Supreme Court. His current term does not expire until 2021. He is 66ish. Judge Denton is an intellectual and very smart. He is a well known Democrat.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 6:54 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Silver is running. Is her campaign slogan "Vote for me…after all we are in the Silver State"?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 6:59 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

How about a name that no one has considered….

Brian Sandoval

His term as Governor is up in January 2019 (same time that these seats become vacant), he has statewide name recognition and can sew up many of the important endorsements very quickly. He already has a campaign team that has a proven track record of wins assembled. I would bet his fund raising abilities exceeds that of Abbi Silver. Finally, he is a former federal judge so certainly qualified to be a judge.

If he has further political aspirations, he will likely have to sit out until at least 2022 (run against Cortez-Masto President/VP. I suspect he has already sufficiently alienated Trump that he has little chance of an appointment to office from this administration despite his name being floated for SCOTUS last year.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 7:03 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Agree 100%. Although he is not old(80 or 85 would be old), he is in fact an older man who has been on the bench for 20 years, and probably just wants to serve a few more years. And, yes,he might consider applying for an appointed position, but, like you, I really doubt he would wish to undertake a state-wide race against very formidable, and even ruthless, opposition.

A healthy 66-year-old may observe that they don't feel much different than they did at 46, or even 36. But if they undertake a state-wide race of this magnitude they will definitely experience real fatigue and exhaustion, and really start feeling their chronological age, even if they never have before.

Just ask anyone in their 60's who ran a state-wide for an open seat against very strong opposition.

He doesn't need this b.s. at this point in his life and career.

Of course this may be all supposition on my part based on what I think makes sense. For all I know, perhaps he actually can be persuaded to throw his hat in the ring.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 7:00 pm

I watched every day of a capital case with a very difficult defendant tried before Cadish. Lots of evidence issues. She did a great job.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 9:55 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Judge Cadish is brilliant. People whose feelings are hurt when a judge rules against them need to get over it. Losing is not a reason to dislike a judge and it doesn't mean the judge sucks. Judge Cadish works hard, understands the law and learns it when she doesn't, is fair, and has a great sense of humor when she lets it peek out.

anonymous
Guest
anonymous
December 5, 2017 7:25 pm

Good God, not Susan Johnson. I have my issues with Cadish but I'd take her in a heartbeat over Johnson. I'd love to see Togliatti up there. She is smart, always prepared, and has a good sense of humor about things (where appropriate). I've always really liked and respected her.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 7:43 pm
Reply to  anonymous

But remember that this is an open election, not an appointment. Johnson is a political animal; Cadish is not. Yes I prefer Cadish the judge, but it would be foolhardy to not recognize that Johnson is a better campaigner. Togliatti is a good candidate/campaigner also but not on the Susan Johnson level.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 7:50 pm
Reply to  anonymous

I have money for Cadish's opponent. I filed an appeal a few months. Cadish screwed up the case Not the great legal mind as professed.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 7:55 pm

Anyone else watching the County Commission meeting on hiring Eglet for the opioid case? It's fascinating.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 8:32 pm

Eglet runs this town. The DOJ needs to investigate.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 8:50 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I will keep on eye on who endorses who. Governors and members of Congress should not be endorsing people. It is a conflict.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 1:50 am
Reply to  Anonymous

@12:50 – Nah, Governors and Congresspeople can endorse whomever they want. They're politicians; they're partisan. The only elected officials who should refrain from endorsing anyone are judges and arguably DAs.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 2:50 am
Reply to  Anonymous

AG should not endorse judicial candidates.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 9:57 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Oh please, everyone wants to take down Eglet, he wouldn't dare do anything to give them a chance.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 10:35 pm

The jury in the Bryan Clay case returned life without verdicts. This is a huge loss for the DA's office.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 10:52 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Why? Honestly I cannot imagine the DA's office is really crying over getting Life Without sentences when other than Scott Dozier Life Without is presently the longest sentence anyone is practically serving.

anonymous
Guest
anonymous
December 5, 2017 11:33 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Honestly I don't see the difference or why it would be regarded as a big deal. Either way, the person will never be walking the streets again, and unless appeals, etc. are waived the death penalty cases can take decades to get through the state and federal systems (and even if waived it takes forever). I honestly don't see the difference and frankly can't understand why we even bother with the death penalty, even putting aside ethical and religious arguments against it.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 11:45 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Why would an expression of mercy equate to a loss? What a shame if that is the DA's mentality. Anything less than death is a loss?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 5, 2017 11:58 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

3:45 I agree and don't know that the DA thinks of this as a loss. I think someone said they might but I think this is for the jury to decide.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 12:14 am
Reply to  Anonymous

I think jurors are realizing that the death penalty is worthless. Giving life w/out is the harshest punishment he could receive.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
December 6, 2017 1:02 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Isn't it true that child rapists have the worst time in jail? I don't normally wish harm on anyone, but I don't think I'd be too upset to hear that he had a hard time in prison.