CLARK COUNTY FAMILY COURT N

One of two candidates seeking the chance to get behind the bench as a Family Court Judge in the Department N race will successfully be elected to their first public post come Nov. 4.

After running for many positions throughout their careers, attorneys Mathew Harter and Gayle Beck Nathan are hoping the public gets behind their respective campaigns.

Harter, a 42-year-old family law attorney with 14 years of experience, ran for positions as a Municipal Court, District Court and Family Court judge since 2000.

Nathan, 54, who has also been practicing family law for 14 years, ran unsuccessfully for a state Senate seat to represent Henderson in 2004. She also ran for a Family Court seat in 2006.

Although their qualifications would appear similar, Nathan said she has the edge because she has served as a trial master, or fill-in judge, off and on for the past six years.

"It certainly gives me a lot of knowledge," Nathan said of the experience. "I've had evidentiary hearings. I've made finding of facts. I've made decisions."

Harter said if elected, he won't pull any punches, including going after his former colleagues.

"The problem with a lot of sitting judges right now is they are scared to upset attorneys," Harter said. "The reason being, if you make an attorney mad, they might run against you."

Harter said more attorneys need to be sanctioned by judges for bringing frivolous lawsuits, further tying up an overwhelmed system.

If the primary results are any indication, the race for the newly created six-year post will be close.

Nathan took in 31,640 votes, or 36 percent, in the primary; Harter gathered 28,877 votes, or 33 percent. According to their August contribution reports, Nathan had about $17,000 in her coffers, while Harter raised about $7,500.

Harter boasts endorsements from such groups as Citizens for Responsible Government, Nevada Concerned Citizens and the Clark County Courts Deputy Marshals Association.

Nathan has been endorsed by the Nevada State AFL-CIO, Professional Firefighters of Nevada and Seniors United.

Nathan said she would like to expand specialized programs to help parents who can't pay child support and are hooked on drugs.

She also said she would implement a program for people who choose to represent themselves so they know the procedure when they are acting as their own lawyers.

"Sometimes people have very legitimate arguments to make but they don't know how to communicate their arguments well," she said.

Harter said he would support mandatory drug testing on the court premises in cases involving child custody. He said he would like to see the district attorney's office enforce laws in instances where people routinely fail drug tests.

He added that he would like to expand the court hours, sometimes starting from as early as 7 a.m. and lasting as late as 9 p.m. The flexible hours would not be a permanent schedule but would be based on a judge's availability, he said.

"I represent average Joe working people, and it hurts them when they have to take a day off of work to go to court," he said.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.