Judgeship appointee to seek election

Carson City District Judge James Todd Russell announced Thursday that he will seek a full six-year term to the bench to which he was appointed in November 2006.

Russell, 60, has served as district judge since his appointment by Gov. Kenny Guinn to complete the balance of retiring Judge Michael Griffin's term.

"It was an honor to be appointed by the governor to the First Judicial District bench," said Russell in a news release. "Being a judge is incredibly rewarding and I hope the residents of Carson City and Storey County put their faith in me to serve a full term."

Before taking the bench, Russell, a 1965 Carson High graduate, worked in private practice in Carson City for more than 30 years. He also served as a member of the Nevada Commission on Ethics and was a chairman of the commission for two years.

Earlier this year, Russell attended the National Judicial College for courses on general jurisdiction and ethics.

He is the son of former Nevada Gov. Charles H. Russell and grandson of former District Judge Clark J. Guild. His uncle, George B. Russell served as a Nevada State Treasurer and clerk of the Federal District Court for Nevada. His brother Clark Russell is owner of the Carson Station Casino.

Judge Russell received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Nevada Reno, in 1969. He graduated from the University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 1974, after serving as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1969-71.

He also worked as a law clerk at the Nevada Supreme Court from 1974-75; and as a deputy attorney general for Nevada from 1975-76.

The primary election will be Aug. 12 followed by the general Nov. 4, but a change by the 2007 Legislature has moved the filing period for judges up from May to a 10-day period in January. This year that's from Jan. 7-18.

The change was made at the judges' request because of judicial canons that bar fundraising for judges who run unopposed. Now, all judges seeking office will know Jan. 15 if they have an opponent.