Two file for Justice Maupin's seat

With the announcement that Bill Maupin isn't seeking a third term on the Nevada Supreme Court, it took only a day for the position to draw two contenders.

Washoe District Judge Deborah Schumacher and former Clark County District Judge Don Chairez, both 52, filed for Supreme Court Seat B on Wednesday.

For Chairez, a former Clark County District Judge, it is his second attempt to win the seat. Maupin defeated him in 2002 by a margin of more than 2 to 1.

Schumacher, a member of the Washoe bench since her appointment by Gov. Bob Miller in 1997, conceded it will take a lot of work to win against a Clark County candidate.

"It will take extra effort to meet those voters and have them get to know me," she said.

Schumacher became a familiar figure at the 2007 Legislature as president of the district judges' association. She is responsible for cases that she said changed the standard for issuing change of custody orders and she drafted legislation that made it easier and faster for grandparents and other relatives to become guardians of children whose parents can't take care of them.

Before becoming a district judge in family court, she was a business and bankruptcy lawyer with the McDonald Carano firm in Reno.

Chairez followed his loss to Maupin with an attempt to win the Nevada Attorney General's post in 2006. He was defeated by Catherine Cortez Masto.

Chairez had one success on the ballot recently. His initiative petition to restrict the government's use of condemnation was approved by voters in 2006. It must go back on the ballot in 2008 to become part of the constitution.

Chairez said the purpose of the amendment is "to prevent transfers where property is taken from one private party and given to another private party."

He said at present, government can condemn land for a public use and then sell it. He said the amendment would allow property owners to have a court decide whether the intended governmental use is actually a public use such as construction of roads or schools.

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