FAMILY COURT O
The newly created Department O Family Court race has drawn attorneys Rebecca Wallace and Ronald Israel and Family Court hearing Master Frank Sullivan to vie for the six-year term.
Wallace has been practicing family law in Henderson for 15 years.
Israel, who unsuccessfully ran for District Court judge positions in 2002 and 2006, has been practicing law in the Silver State for 25 years. He now practices dispute resolution law and personal injury law.
Sullivan has been a hearing master in Family Court for the past eight years. He could not be reached by deadline for comment for this story.
Both Wallace and Israel touted their experience as litigators as the reason they are best suited for the post. But each has their own ideas of what could be improved in Family Court.
Wallace, 53, says she routinely sees judges who can't make decisions.
"There is no reason why cases need to take two or three years," she said. "Judges are afraid to be appealed. Well, so what. That's going to happen."
A pet peeve of hers occurs when judges defer their decisions to psychologists.
"A lot of these judges let psychologists make evaluations and that's not what they're elected to do. ... They are elected to make decisions."
Israel agreed with Wallace's comment that judges prolong the process, which he chalks up to a lack of experience.
"Certain judges have never practiced law in the trenches," the 53-year-old said. "A lot of judges are never efficient. ... What I see is lawyers and their clients waiting for hours, among numerous other problems."
Israel said he has experience behind the bench, serving as a temporary judge in the court's short-trial program in about 10 cases. In that program, he oversees contract disputes on cases involving less than $50,000.
He said the experience is immeasurable.
"I have experience in trials," he said. "I have experience with over 25 years as an attorney."
Wallace is against granting joint-custody. She said such decisions wear down children who have to go from household to household.
"It's a nightmare for the kids."
Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.
VOTERS GUIDEFAMILY COURT DUTIES
Family Court judges rule on domestic matters, including divorces and child custody cases. The court opened in 1993 as a division of Clark County District Court. Family Court judges serve six-year terms and are paid a base salary of $130,000 a year. Candidates who prevail in this year's election will be paid an annual base salary of $160,000. The judgeships are nonpartisan offices.
-- REVIEW-JOURNAL
