Reid will continue to push Cadish for federal bench

WASHINGTON - Sen. Harry Reid said Monday that Clark County judge Elissa Cadish remains at "the top of the list" for a federal judgeship in Nevada, even as she has been blocked from consideration because of questions about her views on gun rights.

Reid, D-Nev., indicated he plans to propose Cadish again next year for the federal bench if the Senate is unable to confirm her during the final days of the current two-year session expected to end later this month.

The names of unconfirmed nominees are returned to the White House at the end of each session and must be renominated in the new Congress, which starts in January.

Talking with reporters, Reid said there is a deep bench of local judges in Las Vegas but "always the number one, top of the list is Cadish. I'm hopeful we can work something out on her."

Cadish, a county judge since 2007, was nominated by President Barack Obama in February to succeed U.S. District Judge Philip Pro, who has taken senior status and a reduced caseload.

But during a background check, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee came across a 2008 election survey Cadish had filled out that raised questions about her stance on the Second Amendment.

Cadish attempted to clarify her comments, but Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., has blocked her confirmation by declining to hand in "blue slip" paperwork that the Judiciary Committee requires from home-state senators in order to move a nominee forward.

Heller's position on Cadish remains unchanged, spokeswoman Chandler Smith said Monday.

Meanwhile the Judiciary Committee has scheduled a confirmation hearing Wednesday on Andrew Gordon, a partner at the Nevada firm of McDonald Carano Wilson nominated to succeed U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks, who is taking senior status.

Heller has given the green light for a hearing on Gordon. Smith said Heller still is reviewing Jennifer Dorsey, yet another Nevada judicial nominee who has been proposed to fill the seat of U.S. District Judge Kent Dawson.

Reid said it will be "really hard" to confirm Gordon in the final days of the Senate session, "but if not, we will tee it up early next year. I'm not concerned about him. He's a very fine man."

Reid also had complimentary things to say about Dorsey.