RIP Judge Allan Earl

  • Law

Judge Earl has passed away. The Nevada Supreme Court issued the following release.

The Nevada Judiciary passes on its deepest condolences following the death of Senior Judge Allan R. Earl.
“To say Judge Earl was a larger than life character would be an understatement,” said Nevada Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael L. Douglas. “He provided leadership in construction defect cases, complex litigation, and provided expertise in rewriting Nevada’s Rules of Civil Procedure. He dedicated his life to furthering the profession of law and helped make us better.”
Governor Kenny Guinn appointed Judge Earl to the Eighth Judicial District Court on December 5, 2000. He retired at the end of his term on January 5, 2015 and became a Senior Judge. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Earl served for 25 years as a partner in the law firm of Galatz, Earl & Associates in Las Vegas, where he specialized in Personal Injury Trial Advocacy.
Judge Earl earned a bachelor of science degree, Cum Laude, in 1965 from Brigham Young University, and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California’s Boalt Hall School of Law in 1968. He served as a law clerk to the Nevada Supreme Court from 1968 to 1969 and was admitted to the Nevada State Bar in 1968.
Judge Earl was a member of the Western Trial Lawyers Association, the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and was a Lawyer’s Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference from Nevada. He authored numerous articles and was appointed by the Nevada Supreme Court to a Select Committee to redraft the Discovery Rules under the Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure. He was a former member of the Standing Committee of Federal Local Practice Rules for the District Court.
In 1994, he was appointed by the Nevada Supreme Court to the Board of Bar Examiners. Judge Earl received the highest possible rating, “AV,” by Martindale-Hubbell and was awarded the Peoples Distinguished Counselor Award by the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association in 1994. He was listed in the publication “Best Lawyers in America” since its inception.           
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 21, 2018 7:51 pm

Allan Earl was a good man

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 21, 2018 8:08 pm

Thank you for posting this. Allan Earl was a true gentleman and very good lawyer and judge. I am so sorry to hear he has passed.

anonymous
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anonymous
March 21, 2018 8:15 pm

RIP. Good lawyer. Good judge, and a very good man.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 21, 2018 8:17 pm

Rest In Peace, Judge Earl

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 21, 2018 8:26 pm

He was always polite and friendly to me.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 21, 2018 9:05 pm

There are many judges in Nevada that I wish would emulate Judge Earl. RIP.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 21, 2018 9:44 pm

Thoughts to his family. There is a day to discuss the bad things and damage that Judge Earl did during his tenure on the bench but today is not that day.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 21, 2018 10:11 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

You should have stopped with your first sentence.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 21, 2018 10:29 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

You should respond how you wish to respond and let other people do the same.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 21, 2018 10:29 pm

3:11 hits the nail on the head. And although no judge is remotely close to being perfect , no one can rationally claim, as 2:44 does, that Judge Earl did any widespread "damage" and really "bad" things. He was a really solid, diligent judge of keen intellect–extremely hard working, conscientious and impeccably honest. The so-called "bad" things or "damage" he caused(which is the language used by 2:44) was probably limited to ruling against 2:44, and probably rightly so. The reason I say "probably rightfully so" is that people like 2:44, who lack even the basic tact and restraint, and who are so sure that they are always right, and certain of it to the extent that they lambast someone a day after they die, usually are of an intellectual capacity wherein they are deeply offended and shocked to learn that someone does not immediately cave to everything they argue for and demand. Such people, who are so certain they are always right, tend to be very myopic and very ill-prepared.

This lawyer is probably someone who is pissed that Judge Earl may have recommended to a litigant, as he did a time or two, that it would be best if they did not litigate the matter in the press.Seems like pretty good advice , but whenever a judge makes such mere suggestion, the media outlets and their attorneys all become immediately super indignant and start hollering about their constitutional rights being denied, etc. But, remember, there is a huge difference between ordering someone not to speak to the media vs. merely suggesting, as Judge Earl did once or twice, that doing so can distract from the court and the parties remaining laser focused on the merits and law of the action.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 21, 2018 10:31 pm

He was a good jurist and a good guy. I spent as much time grumbling about his rulings as anyone but he didn't shoot from the hip and could be counted on to rule in a thoughtful manner. RIP.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 21, 2018 10:33 pm

I had the same impression as 3:29–that being that 2:44, rather than considering the totality of the judge's record and performance, may be focusing on the displeasure 2:44 has with specific rulings on an isolated case. Perhaps not, but it sure seems that way.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 21, 2018 10:43 pm

Judge Earl made it to 76. That's not bad, but it would have been nice if he was as long-lived as his dad–legendary Nevada attorney Rulon Earl who was 94 when he passed about 12 or 15 years ago.

I had such an extremely high opinion of both father and son.The father was a legendary force for decades behind the Housing Authority and was a critical link in our community's huge growth and development during those decades.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 21, 2018 11:34 pm

He was a good Judge and made thoughtful decisions. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. When I was a baby Attorney he took the time to educate me on how the CLC worked. It was greatly appreciated and I never forgot the courtesy.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 22, 2018 3:10 am

RIP Judge. You will forever be remembered as a giant among mere mortals.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 22, 2018 2:58 pm

RIP, only appeared in front of you once, but seemed like a nice man.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 23, 2018 4:14 pm

Judge Earl was a kind considerate gentleman that relied on his moral values to carefully consider the way that he ruled his life as well as in the courtroom. I am honored to call him my friend. We should be so lucky as to have those called to judgeship everywhere throughout the country to have the same moral compass with the desire to delve out justice over and Vs the populous opinion. He is much loved and will be most missed. Goodbye my great friend