54 file for judicial positions

The filing period for Clark County judicial positions opened Monday with the daughter of a well-known judge seeking her father's soon-to-be vacant seat and just one candidate formally launching a bid for the seat held by embattled District Judge Elizabeth Halverson.

More than 40 judicial positions across the Las Vegas Valley will be up for grabs during the 2008 election, in not just District Court and Family Court but also Henderson and Las Vegas Justice Courts.

By the end of the day on Monday, 54 candidates had filed, including 19 incumbent district judges who had yet to draw challengers.

Two incumbents, however, have already announced that they are stepping down.

The 40-year-old daughter of District Judge Stewart Bell, the former Clark County district attorney who was elected to the Department 7 bench in 2002, has filed to replace him.

Linda Bell, an assistant federal public defender, could not be reached for comment on Monday but said in a statement that she wanted to continue her family's tradition of public service. "I want to do what I can to strengthen the public's faith in those who serve," she wrote.

Another District Court bench being vacated is the one in Department 8. District Judge Lee Gates announced last week that he would not be seeking re-election.

Gates, who was first appointed to the bench in 1991, is facing a Judicial Discipline Commission complaint that he misused campaign contributions. He has denied the charge, according to the commission.

Douglas Smith, chief judge of Las Vegas Justice Court, and Susan Scann, a 61-year-old lawyer in private practice, each filed for the Department 8 bench.

Family Court Judge Stefany Miley filed for the Department 23 bench held by Halverson. Halverson is considered vulnerable because the Nevada Supreme Court last year unanimously upheld a decision to suspend her from the bench because of accusations that she harassed employees, fell asleep on the bench and couldn't adequately conduct criminal trials, among other charges.

On Monday, the Nevada Judicial Discipline Commission filed a 14-count complaint against Halverson recounting many of the same accusations against the judge that it had previously leveled against her, including that Halverson created a hostile work environment.

As of Monday night, Halverson had not filed to run for re-election. She could not be reached for comment, but her attorney, Bill Gamage, said the latest update he had received from Halverson was that she planned to run again.

Candidates can file to run for offices through Jan. 18.

Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-1039.