Board rules candidate didn’t knowingly violate practices

A family court judicial candidate didn't knowingly misrepresent her qualifications when she claimed to have 10 years of experience, the Nevada Standing Committee on Judicial Ethics and Election Practices has ruled.

The committee ruled Monday that Brigid Duffy, one of five candidates running for Family Court Department R, didn't violate election practices.

The decision came after a challenger for the same seat, Maria Maskall, complained that Duffy didn't have the required legal experience to be a judge in Clark County. The law states that a candidate must have been a licensed attorney for 10 years before the election.

According to the judicial ethics committee, Duffy was admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania on Dec. 17, 1998. The election is Nov. 4.

However, the committee determined that the law doesn't clearly define what the "election" date is. It could mean the day of the election or the day the candidate takes office.

Maskall said Monday that this is an issue needing to be heard before a court. She said she might take the issue to another venue.