Nominees for vacant judgeships go to governor

The Commission on Judicial Selection has picked three potential replacements for each of two vacant district court judgeships.

Washoe District Judge Peter Breen retired Jan. 20 after 31 years on the bench. His tenure made him the longest serving judge in Nevada at the time of his retirement. Seven lawyers filed applications to take his place for the rest of this year.

Archie Blake, who served as judge in the district encompassing Churchill and Lyon counties, retired Feb. 11. He first took the bench in 1988. Six applied for that post.

The Judicial Commission held interviews for the Washoe position Monday and for the Churchill-Lyon job Tuesday.

The commission is charged with picking three finalists for each judgeship based on merit and qualifications. Those names are then submitted to Gov. Kenny Guinn who makes the final appointment for each post.

The appointees will serve until the next general election when the positions will both be put before the voters.

The three nominees to replace Breen are:

Patrick Flanigan, 53, of the Hale Lane law firm in Reno

Jenny Hubach, 40, a private practitioner in Reno

Bridget Robb Peck, 43, a partner in Beesley, Peck and Matteoni of Reno.

The three nominees to replace Blake are:

Leon Aberasturi, 39, of Fernley, Lyon County district attorney.

Kevin Pasquale, 50, of Fallon, with the firm of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney.

Wayne A. Pederson, 52, of Yerington, in private practice.

Guinn has no deadline for selecting the two judges but if he fails to do so within 30 days, state law bars him from making any other appointments until the judges are named.

Whoever is selected will have to run for election this year to keep the position.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.