Judging the Judges

  • Law

As many of you already noticed, the RJ released the results of its 2013 Judicial Performance Evaluation. As a new feature this year, the report includes the number of times the civil/criminal district court judges received a peremptory challenge over the first nine months of 2013, a number that some people believe to be far more reliable in determining who to retain in this November’s judicial election. Leading the pack with 42 peremptory challenges is Judge Ron Israel (who still managed to have 61% of those surveyed recommend retaining him); not far behind is Judge Jessie Walsh with 39 (down from 93 in 2011 and 48 in 2012–by the way, only 42% say retain her); followed by Judges Gloria Sturman and Jerry Wiese, each with 27; Judge Nancy Allf rounds out the top 5 with 25 peremptory challenges.

Not to be outdone, family court has its own leaders in the peremptory challenge category with three judges–Gayle Nathan, Kenneth Pollock, and Sandra Pomerenze–accounting for over half of all peremptory challenges in family court. Since taking the bench in January 2011, Judge Nathan has been the subject of 200 peremptory challenges. The good news is that her number has decreased each year. Even better news? For fiscal year 2013, these peremptory challenges generated a total of $319,050 in fees!

Did you see anything else remarkable about the results of the survey? Are there any conclusions we should draw based on these results? Are you surprised by any of the results?

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Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 2, 2014 4:32 pm

Having an elected judiciary sucks.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 2, 2014 6:22 pm

Self-selected survey results suck.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 2, 2014 6:45 pm

Elected judges at the trial level aren't as problematic as elected judges on an appellate level.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 2, 2014 6:53 pm

It is not surprising that all three construction defect judges have at least a dozen challenges, but Williams is leading with another 6 or so more than Johson and Earl. Just because of his pro-plaintiff bias?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 5, 2014 6:39 am

Someone is now posting with the judicial watch Facebook account. I hope it is judge Jones and not a hacker

Anonymous
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Anonymous
January 6, 2014 4:57 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Why? At least a hacker might post something truthful.

Unknown
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Unknown
March 3, 2014 10:54 pm

We need judges that actually care about the children their rulings affect… Think about the families and heard they break up… Think about the long term emotional consequences the families face… Thank you Jdg Pollock for breaking up my happy family, them you for destroying any chance at a life my baby will ever have thank you for taking my heart and soul and showing my daughters that it's OK to be abused thank you for showing my baby girls that the law won't protect them and the law punishes the innocent… You ruined my life as well as my baby girls lives.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2014 5:26 pm
Reply to  Unknown

He grinned like the Cheshire Cat the whole time and I guarantee it. The shitty grin is the worst part. Someone is going to punch him right in the middle of that grin one of these days. But not me. Peremptory challenges are the ONLY way to deal with this judge. $450 is a bargain. Anything positive on this website is written by his public relations guy Andre Haynes.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 27, 2014 6:01 am

Do NOT re-elect Judge Pollock

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 1, 2014 5:52 am

Looking at the appellate reversals of Judge Douglas E Smith, I am horrified that such protoplasm actually sits on the Bench. 23 and counting in 3 1/2 years. Justice comes with a price in Clark County… the question is HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET JUSTICE AND WHO IS ENTITLED TO RECEIVE JUSTICE. We can do better in Clark County… one step at a time… it takes our vote and participation in the process of demanding that which is right and good from a system which is corrupt to the core.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 1, 2014 3:42 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Washoe County Bar Association 2014 judicial survey results were just published. Except for the NV Supremes, which are pretty much the same north and south, they rate their judges significantly more highly than Clark County does its judges. Why is that? They know them better? They are better? What?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2014 5:42 pm

I think $450 is expensive for a peremptory challenge. But, when I do one with Judge Pollock it seems like such a good deal.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2014 5:44 pm

They should offer discounts on BOGO Challenges for Judge Pollock.