CLARK COUNTY FAMILY COURT G

Incumbent Judge Cynthia "Dianne" Steel will face first-time candidate Amy M. Mastin, an attorney with her own family law practice, in the race for Family Court's Department G judgeship.

Mastin, 38, who also has prosecuted civil child abuse cases for the Clark County district attorney, said becoming a judge has always been one of her career goals. She chose this particular race because she sees weaknesses in Steel and thinks the judge is vulnerable, she said.

"I didn't want her to be elected for another six years without a challenger."

Mastin pointed to Steel's past ratings in the Review-Journal's Judicial Performance Evaluation surveys as one reason she believes the judge should not be re-elected.

Steel was recommended for retention by 60 percent of lawyers who rated her in the 2008 survey.

Steel, who has served on the Family Court since 1997 and made two unsuccessful runs for a seat on the state Supreme Court, said she wasn't sure how much stock to put into the surveys.

"I don't know who answered them," she said. "Was somebody mad at me? Was one ever an opponent? Were they all valid? I just don't know."

She added: "I believe I have improved over time. I'm a much more mature and seasoned judge than I was on day one."

Steel, 55, believes she is the better candidate because of her experience and her work ethic.

"I think I'm doing a good job," she said. "I work really hard at what I do, and I'm prepared when I take the bench."

The judge said she has experience working in every area of Family Court.

"I've been involved in administration of the court, worked in divorce and custody, child support, property settlements, guardianships," she said. "I did three years as a juvenile delinquency judge."

But Mastin said her own background makes her the better candidate.

"My experience is not just being a family law practitioner, but working as a pro tem hearing master and really seeing all sides," she said. "I've been a litigant, represented people going through divorces and child custody cases, defended parents whose parental rights are being terminated, prosecuted termination of parental rights and sat on the bench."

Mastin earned her law degree from Nova Southeastern University in Florida and was licensed to practice law in Nevada in 1997.

Steel earned her law degree from California Western School of Law.

Contact reporter Lynnette Curtis at lcurtis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0285.