District judge vacancy prompts start of application process

Applications for people interested in filling a district judge vacancy that was created by the midterm departure of David Wall are available on the Nevada Judiciary website, but be advised the process might reach a level of transparency some candidates are unwilling to endure.

The process gives voters an opportunity to look at how merit selection of judges would work in Nevada as the format that will be followed is significantly similar to what is proposed in a November ballot question.

The interviews with judge hopefuls and subsequent deliberations of the Nevada Commission on Judicial Selection, which will recommend at least three names to the next governor of Nevada early next year, will be open to the public, as they have been for three years.

Also, podcasts will be posted to the high court's website.

"Anyone with an interest in the process of filling vacant judicial seats, but who can't attend the public sessions, will have an opportunity through the podcasts to hear what occurred," Supreme Court Chief Justice Ron Parraguirre said in a statement. Parraguirre will lead the selection committee.

Nevada attorneys who meet the requirements, including having a law license for at least 10 years, have until
5 p.m. Nov. 5 to submit applications.

After the application deadline passes, comprehensive background investigations will be conducted. Interviews are tentatively set for Dec. 8-9 in Las Vegas.

After the judicial commission deliberates and chooses three finalists, the list will be sent to the governor for appointment. The nomination could be one of the last formal acts of departing Gov. Jim Gibbons.

The winning candidate must run for election in 2012.

To get a copy of the application, log on to the high court's website at http://www.nevadajudiciary.us.