Finalists named for Carson district court vacancy

Carson City Justices of the Peace Thomas Armstrong and Kristin Luis are among the top three candidates for a Carson City First Judicial District Court seat being vacated by Judge James Wilson on Jan. 8, according to a press release issued Thursday by the Nevada Supreme Court.

“The Nevada Commission on Judicial Selection convened on Dec. 7 to interview five applicants vying to be appointed to the vacancy on the First Judicial District Court,” reads the release. “The commission has completed its work by selecting three nominees. The commission will forward the names of the nominees to Gov. Lombardo. The governor has 30 days from the date of receipt of the applicant names to make an appointment.”

Carson City resident Amber Handy was the third candidate selected. According to her application materials, she is the owner of Handy Legal Services and has worked in Wilson’s court as a neutral guardian ad litem.

Per state law, Lombardo will appoint an interim judge to work until a successor is elected in the November general election and takes office. Armstrong and Luis are up for reelection in 2024 for their current positions. If one of them were appointed to District Court, the vacancy in justice court could be filled by an appointment from the Carson City Board of Supervisors, as allowed under state law.

“To serve the entirety of the term, the appointed judge is required to file as a candidate in the November 2024 general election,” reads the release on the District Court vacancy. “The current term for all district court judges in Nevada expires Jan. 4, 2027.”

Nevada attorneys at least 25 years old, with 10 years of legal experience and two years of Nevada legal practice and residency, were eligible to apply for the position, according to the release.

The state’s high court also described the selection commission itself:

“The Nevada Commission on Judicial Selection is composed of seven permanent members and two temporary members for each selection — the Supreme Court Chief Justice, three non-attorneys appointed by the governor and three attorneys appointed by the State Bar of Nevada,” reads the release. “Neither the governor nor the State Bar may appoint more than two permanent members from the same political party and cannot appoint two members from the same county.

“During each commission’s selection process, two temporary members are appointed by the governor and State Bar respectively. Temporary commissions expire at the conclusion of each selection process.”

For information, visit https://nvcourts.gov/aoc.