Judicial College president, MGM Mirage exec to lead legal panel

CARSON CITY -- National Judicial College President William Dressel will serve as co-chairman of a new commission of judges, lawyers and lay people who will look at how to improve the court system in Nevada.

MGM Mirage Senior Vice President Paula Gentile will co-chair the 33-member Article 6 Commission. Article 6 is the section of the state constitution pertaining to judicial matters.

Due to a misunderstanding, Gentile had been announced Wednesday as chairwoman of the commission. Dressel said members thought it important to have chairs from both Northern and Southern Nevada and from varying backgrounds. Gentile is a lawyer.

"She will be taking the lead, but we felt it was good to have someone from a traditional judicial background," Dressel said. "We will sit down together and draw up a blueprint."

Dressel has served as president of the National Judicial College, at the University of Nevada, Reno, for six years. The college offers training courses and programs for judges throughout the nation.

Dressel was a Colorado judge for 22 years. Before that, he was a lawyer in Denver and Fort Collins, Colo., for 12 years, specializing in trial practice.

The commission, which will meet every other month, will develop recommendations for court improvements.