Sunday, May 02, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

CLARK COUNTY DISTRICT COURT FAMILY/JUVENILE DIVISION

Brown Del Vecchio Elliott Gaston Hardcastle Jones Lueck Moss Ritchie Sanchez Steel Voy

Lisa Brown

• Age: 39

• In job since: 2001

• Next election: 2008

• 2004: Retain, 44 percent; adequacy score, 63; sample size, 123

• 2002: Retain, 64 percent; adequacy score, 79; sample size, 126

• Total comments: 50, predominantly negative.

• Comment: Getting better acquainted with being a judge and has promise for the future. Is a pleasure to appear in front of.

• Comment: Has difficulty in making decisions. Lacks experience in certain areas that is reflected in her inability to make decisions.

• Judge's thoughts: Failed to return phone messages.

Nicholas Del Vecchio

• Age: 47

• In job since: 2000

• Next election: 2008

• 2004: Retain, 83 percent; adequacy score, 88; sample size, 132

• 2002: Retain, 83 percent; adequacy score, 88; sample size, 134

• Total comments: 52, predominantly positive.

• Comment: Judge Del Vecchio runs a tight ship in the courtroom. He keeps the calendar rolling and allows attorneys to charge less because they do not wait around all day for a hearing. Del Vecchio reads the briefs and understands all aspects of family law.

• Comment: I have never felt more railroaded than I did on one occasion in Judge Del Vecchio's courtroom. From the moment that I first spoke, I knew that he had little interest in my argument and would rule in favor of opposing counsel, who was a seasoned family law attorney.

• Judge's thoughts: It takes at least five years to get a handle on the job. You're learning, taking a look at how many of your decisions are appealed. The lawyers poll, as many of the judges that dislike it I kind of welcome it. It's about the only vehicle for lawyers to give feedback on a judge's performance.

Jennifer Elliott

• Age: 46

• In job since: 2003

• Next election: 2008

• 2004: Retain, 71 percent; adequacy score, 82; sample size, 109

• 2002: Not a judge

• Total comments: 41, evenly split.

• Comment: Judge Elliott appears unbelievably prepared and knowledgeable about the cases presented before her. Her preparation and hard work are obvious. She is clearly a positive addition to the domestic bench.

• Comment: Does not have a basic understanding of family law process or procedure. She is not a very good judge, although she tries and means well.

• Judge's thoughts: There is no Family Court in the nation that has as many cases as our Family Court has. I give whatever time I think attorneys and litigants will need. It takes longer if you don't just dictate (a decision). Change is hard. The adversarial process is what most attorneys have been trained for.

Robert Gaston

• Age: 64

• In job since: 1992

• Next election: This fall

• 2004: Retain, 72 percent; adequacy score, 77; sample size, 128

• 2002: Retain, 68 percent; adequacy score, 78; sample size, 163

• Total comments: 46, evenly split.

• Comment: During his approximately 10 years on the bench (he) has evolved into one of the best we have. Caring and concerned when he needs to be; direct and to the point, laying down the law when he has to. The evolution of the person has been as impressive as the evolution of the judge.

• Comment: Judge Gaston rather blatantly favors women in divorce cases. He is good at mediating cases to resolution, but his bias toward women should concern any men appearing in his courtroom.

• Judge's thoughts: I have to look at what's in the children's best interests. When I make a ruling there are some who think I'm biased one way or the other. I don't think I am. I've had comments both ways that I'm biased against women and biased against men.

Gerald Hardcastle

• Age: 57

• In job since: 1993

• Next election: This fall

• 2004: Retain, 74 percent; adequacy score, 80; sample size, 115

• 2002: Retain, 63 percent; adequacy score, 74; sample size, 150

• Total comments: 52, predominantly negative.

• Comment: The greatest friend youths in Clark County could have on the bench. A client may not like his decisions, but you never doubt that he is working for the betterment of the lives of the people before him. A truly great judge.

• Comment: Hardcastle is mean and grumpy, but he treats everyone the same. His rulings tend to be harsh, but once again he applies it equally and free from bias. His curt manner keeps the calendar moving.

• Judge's thoughts: Quite frankly, I think the (survey) is mean spirited. It's not right. It's not right. What does it measure? It doesn't measure much of anything. It really doesn't tell us much about much. You know it's not scientific and yet you continue to do it. The regrettable thing is that the (Clark County Bar Association) is involved in it, giving legitimacy to something that's not scientific.

Steven Jones

• Age: 46

• In job since: 1993

• Next election: This fall

• 2004: Retain, 88 percent; adequacy score, 89; sample size, 138

• 2002: Retain, 81 percent; adequacy score, 86; sample size, 167

• Total comments: 39, predominantly positive.

• Comment: His decisions are reliable and sound. When appearing in front of this judge there is no doubt that the law is going to be applied correctly and that all of the relevant facts are going to be considered carefully in light of his decision.

• Comment: Seems bored with his job. Appears to be listening even after he's made up his mind.

• Judge's thoughts: For the most part I think most judges recognize it's a lot of work. They are passionate about their particular job. I think it bears out in the work product. I think it's better to have that type of judge. There are civil, criminal judges, even attorneys for that matter that just wouldn't handle a family court case because it's so charged emotionally. They're a very high maintenance type of a case (that handle) children, property, money, and the exchange of children.

Robert Lueck

• Age: 56

• In job since: 1999

• Next election: This fall

• 2004: Retain, 53 percent; adequacy score, 70; sample size, 130

• 2002: Retain, 67 percent; adequacy score, 80; sample size, 146

• Total comments: 57, predominantly negative.

• Comment: This man is one of our finest Family Court judges. He is a real gentleman in the courtroom and is very patient with litigants. Other judges in this county should watch him in court and learn how to act like a judge.

• Comment: Good experience but needs to make rulings and move calendar along.

• Judge's thoughts: You've got to decide custody in the best interests of the child, but there are no definitions of (what that means). It's very subjective. We can talk about basic things like food, clothing, shelter. But what about bonding? (Parental) involvement with kids? There are a whole host of different things. And then you've got two parties coming in telling you dramatically different stories, and you're supposed to fathom what's going on.

Cheryl Moss

• Age: 37

• In job since: 2001

• Next election: 2008

• 2004: Retain, 52 percent; adequacy score, 68; sample size, 143

• 2002: Retain, 65 percent; adequacy score, 79; sample size, 127

• Total comments: 57, predominantly negative.

• Comment: Judge Moss has proven herself to our community as a worthy member of the bench through preparation and diligence in applying the law. Her continued guidance will be a benefit to the community and the children of Clark County.

• Comment: Moss misapplies the law. Period. She also gives parties joint physical custody too often. She is biased toward splitting custody, even when it does not make sense.

• Judge's thoughts: Obviously, you're going to get some criticism, but I like to do what's best for the families. It's public service. For me, I start with (ordering) joint custody for men and women if there's no drugs, alcohol, violence. I start on an equal playing field. I'm not a traditional judge. I'm progressive.

T. Arthur Ritchie Jr.

• Age: 42

• In current job since: 1999

• Next election: 2008

• 2004: Retain, 95 percent; adequacy score, 96; sample size, 135

• 2002: Retain, 93 percent; adequacy score, 93; sample size, 142

• Total comments: 58, predominantly positive.

• Comment: By far the best judge in Family Court. Smart and works hard. Makes fair rulings. Even when you lose you understand why and can't argue against his reasons.

• Comment: Has become extremely grumpy of late. Knows the law, knows the cases, but has become quite impatient lately.

• Judge's thoughts: I know it's just a very anxious time for the court when the results come out. First of all, we all care about our job. We all want to do a good job. Judges generally look at some of the things (they are criticized for) and try to do better. We definitely care about it.

Gloria Sanchez

• Age: 50

• In job since: 1993

• Next election: This fall

• 2004: Retain, 91 percent; adequacy score, 94; sample size, 126

• 2002: Retain, 87 percent; adequacy score, 90; sample size, 168

• Total comments: 45, predominantly positive.

• Comment: Judge Sanchez has the voice of reason and compassion. Her decisions are appropriate to the law and well adapted to the circumstances of a given case.

• Comment: Tends to let oral arguments go a little too long in an effort to let parties have their day in court. That simply leans to more and more issues that need to be addressed.

• Judge's thoughts: They either come into (Family) Court unhappy or they leave unhappy. In criminal court somebody prevails. In most civil action someone prevails and they have closure. In Family Court these cases often reopen and can remain open for years.

Cynthia Dianne Steel

• Age: 51

• In job since: 1997

• Next election: 2008

• 2004: Retain, 56 percent; adequacy score, 71; sample size, 142

• 2002: Retain, 60 percent; adequacy score, 78; sample size, 141

• Total comments: 43, predominantly negative.

• Comment: One of the best judges -- fair, patient, super-prepared factually and legally, fair decisions.

• Comment: She is an excellent politician but not a very good judge.

• Judge's thoughts: I have no real comment on the survey. It's really hard to make a comment. It would just be speculation as to why any particular person, unknown, made any particular comments or rated a judge in any particular way.

William Voy

• Age: 44

• In job since: 1998

• Next election: This fall

• 2004: Retain, 87 percent; adequacy score, 88; sample size, 156

• 2002: Retain, 84 percent; adequacy score, 89; sample size, 172

• Total comments: 43, evenly split.

• Comment: Judge Voy has done a tremendous job throughout the years presiding over hard cases with difficult issues. His common sense approach to cutting through BS has kept the docket moving and has served Clark County families well.

• Comment: Tries to be everybody's friend. Needs to work on making good decisions and standing by them. Forget the friendship. Just be courteous and do the job.

• Judge's thoughts: If a lawyer appears in front of me I don't hold back. I usually speak my mind and some lawyers may be offended by that. I call it the way I see it.