With U.S. District Court Judge Brian Sandoval stepping down from the bench for a rumored run for Governor against Jim Gibbons, names are starting to be tossed out for who should fill Sandoval's spot.The RJ reports:
So let's get a list going and generate some odds:Nevada Supreme Court Chief Justice James Hardesty, Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto and Washoe District Judge Brent Adams are among the names surfacing as possible replacements for U.S. District Judge Brian Sandoval
. . . historically nominees to the U.S. District Court in Reno have come from Northern Nevada, which makes Hardesty and Adams -- both Democrats -- contenders for the job, said Carl Tobias, a former UNLV law professor now teaching at the University of Richmond School of Law in Virginia.
Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto
She’s Democrat and “effective and popular" according to Tobias. (RJ) Plus, President Obama seems to like the diversity angle with his judges and Cortez Masto would add some Latina flavor to the pale Nevada bench. Cortez Masto is also a native Nevadan. (AG website) She graduated Cum Laude from Gonzaga University School of Law, in Spokane, Washington in 1990. (AG website) Cortez Masto became Attorney General of Nevada in 2007 and worked as Assistant County Manager for Clark County for five years before that--giving her experience in the north and the south of the state.
Magistrate Judge Robert A. McQuaid, Jr.
Magistrate Judge McQuaid has spent 13 yrs on the federal bench, appointed as a magistrate in 1996. (US Dist Ct) He received his law degree from Willamette University College of Law in 1971, and was admitted to the State Bar of Nevada that year. Before his appointment to the bench in 1996, Judge McQuaid was a partner in the law firm of Georgeson, McQuaid, Thompson & Angaran in Reno. Biggest hurdle: he’s a Republican in a Democratic Presidency, but based on seniority on the bench, he may be the man for the job. (US Dist Ct)
Magistrate Judge Valerie P. Cooke
Magistrate Judge Cooke has spent 10 yrs on the federal bench, appointed as a magistrate in 1999. (US Dist Ct) Prior to her appointment, she was a partner in the law firm of McDonald Carano Wilson, where she practiced to creditors’ rights in bankruptcy and commercial litigation. Judge Cooke received her J.D. degree from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Another plus in her column: She’s got legal legacy chops too since she’s a third generation Nevada lawyer. (US Dist Ct) Another plus for her: she’s a Democrat in a Democratic Presidency. McQuaid may have three years on her, but the politics of nominations may move her ahead of the candidates already sitting on the federal bench
Vito de la Cruz
De la Cruz is an Assistant Federal Public Defender in Reno, Nevada. (Linked In) He's got the credentials, getting his J.D. in 1985 from the University of California-Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. (HP) Before becoming a Fed. PD, he worked for California Rural Legal Assistance in the area of employment discrimination and farm labor issues. Biggest plus for de la Cruz in the era of diversity: he is half American Indian (Yaqui)and half Chicano. Currently, there is only one Native American on the entire federal bench. (RJ)
Washoe County District Judge Brent Adams
Judge Adams has sat on the District Court of Washoe County since 1989 and has been elected three times without opposition. (Washoe Courts bio) According to his bio, he has consistently received among the highest retention ratings and judicial performance evaluations by the Washoe County Bar Association in biennial surveys since 1994. Judge Adams graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1974. Need more credentials? Judge Adams initiated the Washoe County Drug Court, is the founding presiding judge of the Washoe County Business Court and is Editor in Chief of the Nevada Civil Practice Manual and Forms (second and third editions).
Chief Justice James W. Hardesty
From the NV Supremes website: He’s a native Nevadan, born and raised in Reno. Got his JD from University of Pacific McGeorge School of Law in May 1975. Worked in private practice from 1975 through 1998, when he was elected District Court Judge in Washoe County District Court. In November 2004, Chief Justice Hardesty was elected as Supreme Court Justice for the Nevada Supreme Court, where he helped to implement the state's business courts.
So, who's it going to be readers?
Judge Adams would never take the job, they won't let him smoke cigars in his office at the federal court house (like he does at the district court house).
ReplyDeleteWhat about Steven George (son of Lloyd George) in Henderson Justice Court? He is a great judge and that was the source of Judge Dawson, who is also fantastic. He may even be a democrat. Could it happen twice??
ReplyDeleteFairly certain her name is Catherine Cortez "Masto" not "Mastoa." It's correct in the first paragraph, but not after.
ReplyDeleteThnaks @ 9:58. Corrections made.
ReplyDeleteSandoval is Rob Riggle's long lost twin.
ReplyDeleteAs a formality in any judicial vacancy, I'd like to throw Judge Reinhold's name into the discussion.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Bankruptcy Judge Bruce Markell
ReplyDeleteJust a thought from "me and my little dog too"
Hardesty is the best choice. He's from the North, smart, and a good judge/justice. Too bad it might weaken the Supreme Court a bit.
ReplyDeletewhat about Leif Reid? he was short-listed before, and he's a (D), and connected, with good credentials.
ReplyDeleteOf course, Justice Hardesty is also the author of Sisolak, which is one of the worst opinions from the NSC ever. And that is saying something.
ReplyDeleteHe'll probably be over looked, but Judge Gambell out of Douglas County would be a great pick because of his brain and temperment. AND...it has been close to 30 years since Judge McKibben was plucked off the state bench by Ronald Reagan.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be a step down to go from a state supreme court to a federal district court position? I could see Hardesty in a 9th Circuit seat, but not the district court.
ReplyDeleteAdams has too many skeletons in his closet to get through the confirmation.
I'm with 12:12. Mock Trial - with Judge Reinhold!
ReplyDeleteIt's a longshot, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Judge Timothy Williams from the eighth judicial district get the nod.
ReplyDeleteTim Williams, seriously?
ReplyDeleteHe's a terrible judge. He has no backbone.
And rumor has it that MEC has him in their hip pocket.
Politically, it has to be someone from northern Nevada, especially since Harry needs to keep his ties strong to the north and rurals for November 2010.
ReplyDelete4:20 - I suppose it depends on your perspective, but I disagree. Presidential appointment (technically, anyway), life tenure, no elections, better-credentialed clerks (though the former NSC clerks I know are great, too).
ReplyDelete@ 9:36
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Williams is a horrible judge who fears power attorneys. Do we really want someone like that on the NSC?
Southern NV just lost a great federal judge. Clive Jones is going back to Reno. Sandoval's replacement is going to come from the South.
ReplyDelete