Why is your judicial experience
as a family court judge important?
The Nevada Supreme Court is
the court of final appeal for all Nevada cases. The highest
court should have Justices with experience in every area of
Nevada law, including matters concerning elders, juvenile delinquents,
kids in foster care, domestic violence, termination of parental
rights, paternity, and divorce. I have expertise in these areas.
No current Supreme Court Justice was a Juvenile and Family Court
Judge. When the Nevada Supreme Court decides one of these cases--such
as last year's case modifying when parent can change a child
custody order--these decisions impact many Nevadans in a highly
personal and important way. My background would complement the
current Supreme Court. My opponent is a skilled lawyer, but
has never been a judge and has no expertise in juvenile or family
law.
Additionally, every District Court Judge's responsibility
includes sitting as an appellate judge in review of matters
from lower level judges. I have heard hundreds of appeals of
Court Masters' decisions, using the same standard of review
as the Supreme Court uses. It has helped to prepare me for the
Supreme Court position I'm seeking.
My experience as a District Court Judge for 11
years is important. Every current Justice had a successful career
as a District Court Judge before becoming a Supreme Court Justice.
The best lawyers are frequently strong advocates. As the National
Judicial College teaches, it takes an individual several years
to make the change from being a partisan advocate for one side
to being the neutral decision-maker. This is an important reason
why an experienced judge should be chosen for our State's highest
Court.
Finally, I have a public record as a basis of
my request for Nevadans' vote. We need many things in a good
judge, but none more important than solid judgment. I don't
have to tell you why I would/could/should be a successful judge
if you elect me--I am a successful judge and I'm asking you
to promote me to the next level of the judiciary.
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How much time do you have?
Not enough! I handle more than 2,000 cases per
year, and am the Mother of three, one of whom is still at home.
I was raised by a stay-at-home Mom, and I love some of the rhythms
of my childhood, especially home-cooked dinners and annual holiday
events. (We have a great annual gingerbread house night in our
family, for instance, and I am nuts about Halloween.) I have
always worked hard to parent well. I wish there were more hours
(even minutes) in the day.
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Besides being a family court
judge, what other experience do you have in law?
Prior to becoming a judge in 1997, I was a partner
at the McDonald Carano Wilson law firm, in the Reno office.
I came to Reno from an association with a major San Francisco
firm, Burnham McCutchen. In both firms, I practiced in the area
complex commercial transactions and litigation, bankruptcy,
business and general civil litigation, including products liability.
I have extensive civil litigation experience, which the Nevada
Supreme Court recognized when it appointed me to the statewide
commission that proposed revisions to the Nevada Rules of Civil
Procedure. I have been on the State Bar's Business and Family
Law Executive Committees. My law clients were diverse: from
individuals to small businesses to commercial lenders. My representation
of the Farm Credit System took me into rural Nevada and gave
me a better understanding of our State. While still a McDonald
Carano partner, I also worked part-time as a "Court Master",
which is a limited jurisdiction judicial officer.
My first law related job was with the Constitutional
Studies Center at the University of Notre Dame. I worked on
a brief to the U. S. Supreme Court that the Center was preparing
in First Amendment (freedom of religion) case. My first summer
job during law school was with a Bay Area firm that specialized
in maritime law. Not much application in Nevada!
I frequently teach lawyers and judges. I have
been on the faculty of the National Judicial College since 2000.
In 2006, I was awarded Nevada's Basic Certificate of Judicial
Education, which signifies that I have taken 240 hours of continuing
judicial education.
In 2005-06, I was President of the Nevada District
Judges Association. My duties included representing the interests
of the State's trial judges during the last legislative session.
During my tenure, I had the opportunity to learn about the circumstances
and needs of District Courts across Nevada.
Before attending law school, I studied and taught
U.S. History, and legal history in particular. While studying
law and society, I realized I wanted an active role, not just
a scholar's role, and thought even then I wanted ultimately
to become a judge.
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What are the different levels
of the judicial system and and how do they work together?
Justice Courts and Municipal Courts are courts
of limited jurisdiction that preside over misdemeanor criminal
cases, traffic cases, disputes in which less than $10,000 is
at issue and preliminary matters in gross misdemeanor and felony
cases. These judges' decisions are appealed to the District
Court. District Court Judges preside over felony and gross misdemeanor
criminal cases, juvenile crimes, civil matters over $10,000,
family law cases and child abuse and neglect cases. District
Courts also have court masters, whose recommendations are reviewed
by the District Court Judges. District Judges' decisions are
appealed to the Nevada Supreme Court. In addition to deciding
all appeals, the Supreme Court supervised the entire judicial
system in Nevada.
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What levels have you served
on and how has this helped you?
I have served as a Court Master and a District
Court Judge. This service spans 15 years and has allowed me
to develop and demonstrate judicial skills and a judicial temperament.
It has also allowed me to work in court administration in a
variety of ways, which is important because of the Supreme Court's
responsibility for the entire justice system. For example, the
Supreme Court tasked me to assist in creating a bench book for
judges handling child abuse and neglect cases. (A "bench
book" is a judicial education tool judges use on the job.)
I served for years on the Federal-State Judicial Council, which
exchanges information between our state and federal judiciaries.
The Supreme Court also appointed me to the Commission that recommended
changes to lawyer ethics rules and to the Commission that revised
the Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure. These are just examples
of my work in court administration.
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What is the purpose of the
Supreme Court and what impact does it have on the individual?
The Supreme Court has the final word on all matters
of Nevada law. Its decisions affect every Nevada citizen and
business. For example, it recently upheld the constitutionality
of the term limit initiative passed by voters and decided which
candidates will appear on our election ballots in November.
Just to mention a minute selections of the topics its decisions
have covered: the validity of prevailing wage laws, child custody
standards, automobile search and seizure standards and residency
requirements for office holders. No Nevadan is untouched by
its decisions.
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Why did you decided to pursue
an election to the Supreme Court?
Although I've been told I need a snappier answer,
the truth is this: I would love to do the primary work that
the Supreme Court does and I think I have the skills and experience
to do it well, for the benefit of our citizens. Although the
Nevada Supreme Court has a number of responsibilities, its core
job is the tell us what Nevada law is. In my current job, with
responsibility for thousands of cases every year, everything
has to move through pretty fast. I would really enjoy the challenge
of working through complex legal issues and writing clear opinions.
My graduate school education in history included teaching writing
to college freshman. I am confident that I have the analytical
and writing skills to do the job of a Supreme Court Justice.
As I already mentioned, there is no current Justice
who was a Juvenile and Family Court Judge. I could add that
expertise to the benefit of the current Court. Also, the Supreme
Court's administrative responsibilities include something called
the Court Improvement Project. That project focuses on the improvement
of court handling of the cases of kids in foster care. These
kids are among our most vulnerable citizens and they deserve
our best efforts. I am the "Lead Judge" in Washoe
County in a nationwide Model Court Project that is dedicated
to improving the handling of foster care cases and I would like
to use that knowledge for the benefit of the whole State.
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How has being a district
court judge affected your every day life?
It has been a privilege to be entrusted with this
level of responsibility for the well-being of our citizens and
I am aware of that every day. All judges are somewhat isolated
by the nature of the office, but I am lucky to have several
good friends who are also judges, which helps minimize the impact
of isolation. It has given me the opportunity to make positive
changes in the court system, especially with respect to how
foster kids' cases are handled, and that is very gratifying.
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How important is it that
every person young and old comes out and votes in the election?
Voting is a precious civil right of U.S. citizens,
which African Americans, Native Americans, women and other citizens
fought hard to win. We are less of a democracy if large numbers
don't participate. Millions of people in other countries have
no say in who governs them, and they sometimes risk their lives
to vote. How can we take voting for granted?
In addition, your vote really does count. In
the 2000 presidential race, Al Gore won the popular vote by
less than 1 percent even though George W. Bush won the electoral
vote by less than 1 percent and therefore became President.
Small numbers of additional voters going to the polls could
have changed the outcome. This year's presidential election
also looks to be very, very close. Government affects our everyday
lives in big ways. So, have your say in how it comes out.
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What should someone look
for in a judicial candidate?
A judicial candidate should have high ethical
standards and unquestioned integrity, excellent legal knowledge
and interpretation skills, the ability to write well, relevant
professional experience, a good work ethic, and a judicial temperament,
which includes open-mindedness, decisiveness, compassion and
common sense. It is important that the candidate lack a personal
agenda to be imposed via the court.
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What are some important
issues for young people to become educated on?
There are many, but among them: how our government
works at the local, state and national levels, environmental
challenges, health care and health insurance (including our
responsibility for keeping ourselves healthy), the economy,
national defense, immigration reform, the quality of children's
education, and a huge number of social issues, such as hunger
and homelessness.
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What is an Intermediate
Appellate Court? Should one be brought to Nevada?
Nevada needs an Intermediate Appellate Court,
but the barrier is cost during tight economic times. The Nevada
Supreme Court is carrying several times the recommended case
load for a state's highest court, which means that it can spend
less time than might be best on some of the most difficult cases.
At present, the Nevada Supreme Court is our only appeals court
beyond the trial level. That means they hear every case--trivial
or vitally important--from prisoners complaining about peanut
butter to death penalty cases. An Intermediate Court of Appeals
could handle some of these cases, so that the Nevada Supreme
Court could focus on its most important job: being the final
arbiter of Nevada law.
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What is your educational
background?
- BA, History & Political Science, Valparaiso
University
- MA, U. S. History, University of Chicago
- Doctoral Candidate (U. S. History) and Law Degree,
University of Notre Dame
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USER GENERATED QUESTIONS
What are some of your favorite
local events?
Hot August Nights, Street Vibrations, Hot Air
Balloon Races. I love barbecue, so the rib cook-off is at the
top of my list. And even though my kids are big now, we still
do Dawn Patrol at the Balloon Races every year. Pops on the
River at Art Town is great. (This year, campaign volunteers
and I dressed as English Judges—wigs and all—and
won Most Outrageous Table.) I also love nearby events, like
the 4th of July fireworks at Donner Lake and apple picking at
Apple Hill.
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Do you wear a Helmet when
you ride your bike?
Yes.
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What do you wear under the
robe?
Ordinary clothes, except when the air conditioning
isn't working.
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Do you hoola hoop?
Not in at last 10 years, when my kids had them.
My Dad tells a great story about hoola hoops. Before he retired,
he ran a small business that sold building materials, including
plastic pipe. He says that at the height of the initial hoola
hoop craze, there was a shortage of plastic water pipe for home
construction because manufacturers had re-tooled to make more
profitable hoola hoops.
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