The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress

  • Law

  • Here’s a look at some of the testimony from the marijuana licensing hearing. [TNI]
  • What’s going on with the Regents? [Las Vegas Sun]
  • Bail denied for suspect in death of manicurist. [RJ]
  • The Commission on Judicial Selection is sending the following three names to the Governor so he can appoint one to the bench in Department 8: 

•             Trevor Lee Atkin, 57, Las Vegas, Atkin Winner & Sherrod
•             Terrance Allen Coffing, 54, Las Vegas, Marquis & Aurbach
•             Joseph Vadala, 54, Las Vegas, Nevada Attorney General’s Office

24 Comments
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 4:04 pm

*Marquis Aurbach Coffing

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 4:08 pm

I like Trevor and Terry as candidates. I think either would be a good judge. Don't know a thing about Vadala.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 4:24 pm

Joe Vadala is a good man — smart and has a really big heart. Was at the AG like 20 years ago, and is now there again. We could do a whole lot worse than to have Joe on the bench.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 6:32 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

That is the exact opposite of what I have heard. Had a real problem with his subordinates.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 9:00 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

A "good man" doesn't treat people the way I've seen Joe treat coworkers. Sad to hear he's being considered.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 9:14 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I worked under Joe's direction. He is one of my very favorite supervisors I've ever worked with, legal or otherwise.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 4:36 pm

I have had a lot of cases against Trevor, and he is a stand up guy, very intelligent, and an excellent lawyer.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 4:38 pm

I don't trust anything associated with Groesbeck

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 8:14 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

+1

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 10:09 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Did one of them used to be mayor of BC?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 18, 2019 3:12 pm
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 4:58 pm

It would appear that the three final candidates are fine choices. However, there has been a lot of complaining in the past about prior selected and elected district court judges. The job requires at least 10 years of experience and does not pay well enough. What is the base pay for a district court Judge? $160,000/year? At that level, we will never get candidates who are well experienced enough. I believe some of the municipal court and justice court judges make more than that.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 5:01 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

These three are all "well experienced." What are you talking about?

anonymous
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anonymous
July 17, 2019 5:25 pm

Terry and Trevor would both be excellent choices. I have no experience with Vadala so would be curious to hear from those who do.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 6:21 pm

Terry Coffing is a bog. No thanks.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 7:29 pm

Coffing or Atkin would be fine, but the Governor does not gain by appointing someone with a WASPY name who is in private practice.

But if he appoints Vadala, that serves diversity purposes, and pleases the democrats, as they will assume he is of Latin heritage. And such appointment may also please the republicans, or more conservative factions, as Vadala is a public attorney in the criminal justice field.

Usually a Deputy District Attorney is advanced. But since that did not occur this time, then an Deputy Attorney General will also serve the same purposes.

But the rule is that in order for that factor to help with the appointment, the public attorney must be on the prosecutorial side. No one ever appoints a sitting, and long-serving Deputy Public Defender, even though some have been worthy.

And, back to diversity, since no women was advanced this time, it benefits Vadala to be of Latin heritage.

Bottom line is that this time, unlike most other times, all three are experienced and deserving. Any of the three would probably be fine. That is usually not the case. So, the Commission did okay, IMO, with advancing these final three.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 9:22 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Joe is a good guy but comes in third here. He does not have any criminal experience and left the law for 8 years to live in europe with his partner. Does not make him bad but this is a good field.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 26, 2019 3:53 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

He hates women and lacks judicial demeanor.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 10:05 pm

Agree with 2:22 and their assessment of Joe Vadala, and that although a worthy choice, that the other two are better.

But totally agree with 12;29 that this is never an exercise of determining, and then appointing, the best lawyer among the finalists. This is about addressing certain concerns– such as appealing to diversity concerns, or appealing to a law and order contingency.

And Joe satisfies both those criteria.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 10:43 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

AG's office is well known for attracting and producing the finest legal scholars in the community.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 10:52 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Yes, Aaron Ford who thinks only 5 percent of domestic violence cases are legit.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 11:31 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

3:52–and don't forget the previous AG who had received scathingly brutal evaluations form the law firm he worked for–e.g. "horrible", "a train wreck", etc.

And his definition of well-researched, insightful and cerebral legal writings apparently consisted of writing articles that gays are bad, like really bad, and they should not be permitted to marry as it sets a bad, really bad, example for young people.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
July 17, 2019 10:45 pm

3:43 has a gift for dry wit and disarming sarcasm.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 1, 2019 1:28 am

"The moon is a harsh mistress" – It appears that our clever blog admin has slyly referenced a work of fiction… and is a Robert Heinlein fan.