Judicial briefs

Election filing period closes for judicial seats

(Nevada Appeal News Service) - Mary "Kris" Pickering, of Las Vegas, has filed for the Supreme Court seeking the Seat B position being vacated by retiring Justice Bill Maupin.

Reno lawyer Jack Kennedy filed for the Department 1 seat in District 3, which consists of Churchill and Lyon counties.

Thomas Stockard, of Fallon, and John Schlegelmilch, of Yerington, also filed in District 3.

Both District 7 judges, Steven Dobrescu and Dan Papez, have filed for re-election.

District 7 consists of Lincoln, White Pine and Eureka counties.

Robert Beckett, of Pahrump, filed for the Department 1 seat in District 5, which consists of Nye, Mineral and Esmeralda counties.

William Schaeffer, of Battle Mountain, filed for the Department 2 seat in District 6, Humboldt, Lander and Pershing counties.

Filing for Nevada's district and supreme courts was moved up to January by the 2007 Legislature to help judicial candidates comply with rules that say they cannot raise campaign funds if they run unopposed.

The 2008 primary election will be Aug. 12 followed by the general Nov. 4.

The filing period for all other offices is May 5-16.

Suspended judge files for re-election

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A Nevada state judge who has been suspended since July has filed for re-election, but will face a challenger who promises to air allegations that have prompted action by the state Judicial Discipline Commission.

"The track record of a judge is important to know," Las Vegas Family Court Judge Stefany Miley told the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Thursday, after suspended Judge Elizabeth Halverson entered the race for the Clark County District Court seat.

Las Vegas lawyer Troy Peyton filed candidacy papers Jan. 9 for the same seat, but told the newspaper he will withdraw.

"I'm just too far behind the curve," he said.

Halverson, who was elected to a two-year term in 2006, has contested discipline panel accusations that her performance on the bench "posed a substantial threat of serious harm to the public and to the administration of justice."

She has blamed disgruntled employees and vindictive colleagues for allegations she mistreated staff, hired her own security guards, slept during hearings and improperly met with jurors impaneled to decide cases before her.

Halverson has continued to collect her $130,000 annual pay pending a disciplinary proceeding.