Ellsworth picked to replace Glass as district judge

CARSON CITY-- Carolyn Ellsworth, a former prosecutor and private attorney now with the Nevada secretary of state's office, was appointed Thursday by Gov. Brian Sandoval to serve as a district judge in Clark County.

Ellsworth replaces former Judge Jackie Glass who left the post to serve as a judge on a TV court show.

Sandoval selected Ellsworth over Las Vegas lawyer Michael Davidson and Adriana Escobar, a lawyer who works in the attorney general's fraud unit. All three had been named finalists to fill the vacancy by the Nevada Commission on Judicial Selection.

"Carolyn's patience, civility and respect will provide a solid judicial temperament on the bench," Sandoval said. "With three decades of law experience, Carolyn's understanding of Nevada law will be extremely valuable."

For the past four years, Ellsworth, 56, has served as administrator and chief of enforcement for the securities division in the secretary of state's office. For the seven years prior to that, she was a lawyer in private practice.

But she may be best known for her 11 years as a prosecutor with the Clark County district attorney's office. She also spent 10 years as assistant general counsel for Mirage Resorts Inc.

A graduate of San Diego State University and the Southwestern University School of Law, Ellsworth was admitted to the Nevada bar in 1980.

If she wants to keep the seat, Ellsworth must run and win in the November 2012 election.

Contact reporter Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.