Carson City judge denies conflict in CD2 ruling

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - A Carson City judge says he didn't consider it to be a conflict when he ruled on procedures for Nevada's special election to fill an open congressional seat, even though he co-owns a small mining claim with a top contender in the race.

District Judge James Russell holds the $500 mining claim with Republican Mark Amodei. Russell didn't reveal the relationship before he ruled May 19 that Nevada's political parties should nominate their own candidates for the Sept. 13 election.

Russell's opinion was later upheld by the Nevada Supreme Court.

Russell said he didn't disclose the mining claim because Amodei had not yet filed for office and Amodei wasn't a party to the lawsuit.

Amodei, however, had declared his candidacy 10 days before the hearing.