Judicial panel seeks more funds

Lawmakers considering an increase in the budget for the state Commission on Judicial Discipline were told Monday that the panel has spent more than expected because of the time required to deal with scandals involving Nevada judges.

Dave Sarnowski, the commission's executive director, said expenses have been higher in the past couple of years because of high-profile cases that resulted in the removal of two judges. Those cases required investigations that were so costly that the panel had to seek emergency funding in advance of the 2009 session.

The commission's budget would increase by more than 15 percent in fiscal 2010 and 3 percent the following year. Some of those funds would be spent to hire a legal assistant, who at a lower cost could handle research work usually done by lawyers and private investigators.

"I just hope the Legislature understands, and the broader community of Nevada understands, that we will do what we can with the assets we possess, and try to husband them and spend our moneys wisely," Sarnowski said. "However, like most agencies, we cannot do more with less."

The busy agenda for the commission, responsible for enforcing ethical rules for judges and judicial candidates, has included two cases that ended last year in the ouster of two judges for misconduct.

Former Clark County District Judge Elizabeth Halverson was removed from office after she was accused of mishandling trials, mistreating staff, falling asleep on the bench, and other charges.

Former Clark County Family Court Judge Nicholas Del Vecchio was ousted from office after pleading no contest to 11 ethics violations, including claims that he sexually harassed his former stepdaughter and made racially and sexually disparaging comments to court employees.

The commission has been criticized for working slowly, but Sarnowski said the speed of the commission's work is impacted by its funding. Commissioners meet four times per year, and if their funding is running low at the end of the year they may not be able to meet.

Funding also has been an issue for a national group that represents discipline panels such as Nevada's.

Sarnowski said the Association of Judicial Disciplinary Councils holds an annual conference and had planned to hold it in Las Vegas this year, but asked its members to determine whether the conference would still be a good idea.

Sarnowski said association members were asked whether that national event should be canceled because of budget problems, and also were asked, "Is there an appearance of impropriety if we have this convention or meeting in Las Vegas?" Answers to those queries are due by the end of the week.