There were nine applicants to fill the vacancy on the Court of Appeals created by the election of Abby Silver to the Supreme Court. The applicants for the open seat are:
• Bonnie A. Bulla, 56, Las Vegas, Eighth Judicial District Court, Office of the Discovery Commissioner
• Shawn M. Elicegui, 48, Reno, NV Energy, Inc.
• Charles Hoskin, 55, Las Vegas, Eighth Judicial District Court, Family Division, Dept. E
• John Hunt, 64, Las Vegas, Clark Hill PLLC
• Clark G. Leslie, Jr, 68, Minden, Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers
• Tracie K. Lindeman, 56, Carson City, Attorney
• Vincent Ochoa, 66, Las Vegas, Eighth Judicial District Court, Family Division, Dept. S
• Kevin Speed, 44, Las Vegas, Office of the Clark County Public Defender
• Jerry Wiese, 52, Las Vegas, Eighth Judicial District Court, Dept. 30
The Commission invites written public comments about the applicant qualifications. Commission rules allow reference letters to remain confidential if requested by the letter writer. However, the Commission may discuss the contents of the letter with the applicant during executive session. Anonymous letters may not be considered at the discretion of the Commissioners. Submit letters of reference by 5 p.m. on January 4, 2019 to:
Ms. Robin Sweet
Secretary, Commission on Judicial Selection
Nevada Supreme Court
201 S. Carson St., Suite 250
Carson City, Nevada, 89701
Interviews to fill the open position are tentatively scheduled for the week of January 14, 2019, at the Supreme Court in Las Vegas, 408 E. Clark Ave., and will be open to the public. Once the interviews are complete, the Commission will consider and nominate three finalist names to Governor-elect Steve Sisolak for appointment to the Court of Appeals.
Judge Ochoa would do a good job.
This comment wins the award for the most sarcastic comment ever.
To be fair, 9:03 did not specify as to what the job would be. If the question was "Who would you rely upon to inevitably screw up a case and cost the litigants tens of the thousands of dollars?", 9:03's answer is reasonable. If the question was "Who would you rely upon to never be on time and not understand the most fundamental of issues?", 9:03's answer is correct.
Ochoa could do a lot of damage.
Good luck Judge Jerry Wiese. He would be a great pick.
JER-RY! JER-RY! JER-RY! JER-RY!
The rest? Not just No, but Hell no. Bonnie would be an absolutely horrorshow. Being the clerk of the NSC doesn't qualify you to be an appellate judge. Hoskin and Ochoa? Not a freaking chance.
Bring on Justice JAWS.
I hope JAWS does his campaign ads shirtless a la his PI advertisements. Classy.
I'll second (or third) support for Judge Weise, and second the opposition for Discovery Commissioner Bulla. She already has contempt for just about anyone that comes in front of her even those that file the motion to compel because of the bad acts of the opposing side. I understand being against the person that committed the bad act but not against the person that brings it in front of her for a decision against that person. I can't imagine her as an appellate judge.
But this way Bonnie would not have to actually see people very often and could just hide behind the Court.
I'd have a hard time supporting anyone for the appellate court who hasn't been a district court judge first. Understanding how trial courts work, both civil and criminal, is important experience for an appellate judge to have. In my estimation, that would give Judge Wiese an edge over the two family court judges, but the three judges collectively would have the edge over anyone else. Does anyone disagree? I'm curious to read other views.
I think I disagree. I think a talented and experienced litigator can probably jump into an appellate role easier than a trial-court role. At the appellate level the task is to make the right decision on sometimes complicated issues after careful deliberation. At the trial level, you need to make more (and often simpler) decisions quickly. I think doing that requires significant trial experience or an OTJ learning curve.
I would take a randomly-selected partner out of the litigation group at any Chambers-rated firm in Nevada as an appellate judge over someone like Ochoa.
I would pick Jerry Wiese or Kevin Speed. God bless no to Bonnie, although I like her better than Cadish, which is not a compliment.
I agree to some degree that I prefer someone with experience as a trial court judge. There is a significant value in understanding the challenges that a trial judge faces on a daily basis, as well as, the technical aspects of managing a court and conducting a trial, as well as, the making of the record upon which the appeal will be decided.
Many times cases end up being decided not so much on the facts and law but rather on the record made below. As a litigator I was taught many years ago… bad facts can make bad law.
I support Wiese, because he supports the law library.
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Hey guys and gals,
Checked the applications – There are four (not three) NRS-defined “judges”. And the one with the longest tenure and most judicial experience is not one of the three guys. As good a trial judge as one or more of the guys may be, that doesn’t automatically translate into what it takes to be a good appellate judge. The skill sets are different. Knowing how to knock heads at trial (not only for the judge, but for the lawyers) doesn’t equate with knowing how to apply statutory and case law to the more limited issues in an appellate setting to reach a fair, well-reasoned resolution. Remember, our Court Of Appeals is a “push-down” court – the statute prescribes what it can hear, but mostly it takes what the Supremes give them from above. Looking at the field, there’s only one “judge” in the queue who’s been doing other judges’ “push down” work for her entire career, and making the tough decisions that allow cases to move efficiently, smoothly, and with greater civility. Think about that, and let’s have less bashing of and more respect for every one of the people who have put themselves on the line by applying for this position.
Yeah, I disagree. Are we all talking about the same Jerry? Is there any evidence he actually knows and applies the law?
Why only one private practice attorney?
Because partners in private practice earn more in pay than appellate court judges do?
The only problem with Jerry getting the appointment would be losing him as a trial judge. His rulings are mostly sound, he treats people with respect, doesn't act like some prima donna on the bench, staff is decent to work with, etc. As for Bonnie, my personal experiences have been more positive than negative, although there's been a little of each. Think about the worst miscreants you've ever dealt with during discovery. That's who she has in her courtroom every damn day. You'd be grumpy too.
Another thought in a similar vein is that if Wiese leaves the bench, we lose him as a settlement judge. I have used him as a settlement judge through the court's MSC program 3-4 times and he did a great job each time.
Here is the problem with the CoA– either it is stepping stone to the Nevada Supreme Court for the climbers (see Silver and Tao who made it one cycle before trying to climb) or a Judge who really does not care about making a difference because you are a nobody. Your rulings are not followed or respected by anybody because the Supremes made you a red-headed stepchild.
Either a stepping stone, or a place to get your retirement credits in if you are tired of being a trial judge. I can't imagine any other reason for someone to want the job.
On behalf of all red headed stepchildren, unlike our liberal brethren, we take no offense.
If Nevada really cared that all people were represented in the legal system, it would offer up at least one transgender person if color from the LGBTQL community as a judicial candidate. I just see the same people over and over. Thankfully, a lot of people with some common sense are moving here from CA. I'm not a lawyer but in admin in a law firm but I'm tired of no diversity with these judges.
You get that these people applied for the job, right? They weren't drafted? They weren't selected by the right-wing elite in the monthly meetings of the Skull and Bones Society? (BTW, for everyone who is a member, you should expect your invoice for annual dues any day now). And you get that they are applying for vacancies created by elections?
If you want someone to run, encourage them to run. It doesn't always work (see, e.g. the comment above about successful private attorneys taking a cut in pay to be a judge), and they aren't always elected, but 100% of the people elected to an office ran for one.
11:47 is not aware- (1) there is an openly gay member of the Supreme Court; (2) in January, the Supreme Court will be majority female; and (2) the Chief Justice is African American.
But there's no diversity?!??!?!
I have personal injury case for referral, please. Recommendations?
Clark Vellis (775) 851-8700
Not Claggett.
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Are you saying a transgendered woman does not count and you are only rendering cis women qualified?
Second who said the Discovery Commissioner or Clerk of the Supreme Court are qualified women?
Another attorney, Chad Dennie, is alleged to have stolen between $600k-$650k from his client trust account… Check out the Supreme's unpublished orders (Case #77460).
That was last week's news. Actually discussed last week.
And another… Matthew Dunkley.
https://www.lasvegasnow.com/news/local-news/las-vegas-attorney-accused-of-stealing-money-from-clients-3/1651405478
Fuck you Matthew Dunkley, for victimizing your clients and making us all look bad.
A-18-768630-C | Mainor Wirth LLP, Plaintiff(s) vs. Chad Dennie, Defendant(s)
Who does he resolve with first…State Bar or Mainor Wirth?
"Mr. Hulet informed the Court Plaintiff has received responses to the Interrogatories which appear to be sufficient. Mr. Hulet stated he will be going through responses and filing an application for default judgment. Mr. Hulet requested to withdraw the OSC on calendar. COURT SO ORDERED, HEARING WITHDRAWN."
It will be interesting to see how accurate those ROGS are.
For the old folks who are reading the Blog at the Apple IIe in the retirement home lunchroom, Melvin Dummar died. https://www.lasvegasnow.com/news/local-news/man-who-said-he-rescued-billionaire-howard-hughes-has-died/1651209734