FAMILY COURT R

Voters for Family Court's newly created Department R judgeship will have five candidates to choose from in the primaries, most of whom have unsuccessfully run for other judicial seats in the past.

The field includes perennial candidate Bill Henderson, long-time local attorneys Fernando Guzman and Chuck Hoskin, Clark County Deputy District Attorney Brigid Duffy and attorney Maria Maskall.

Henderson has run for numerous seats before. Guzman, too, has vied for several judgeships. Hoskin has attempted to become a Family Court judge twice before. And Maskall ran unsuccessfully for Family Court judge in 2006.

Guzman said he chose the new seat for his next run because there's no incumbent and because his lifelong dream is to be a Family Court judge.

"It's my one final goal in life to fulfill that dream," the 59-year-old said.

Guzman spent 25 years as hearing master in Family Court and is a newly appointed alternate municipal court judge. His inside knowledge and camaraderie with Family Court staff will help him be a fair and efficient jurist, he said.

"I can expedite matters in court," he said. "People don't like waiting for decisions forever."

Henderson, 49, is a 20-year lawyer in Las Vegas. He is also a Clark County truancy master and alternate hearing master in Family Court. He came about 1,000 votes shy of winning a District Court judgeship in 2006, losing by the slimmest of margins to District Judge Elizabeth Halverson.

Henderson said he has the sensitivity to handle Family Court matters fairly.

"It's very important to be patient and understanding, because people are going through extreme emotional turmoil (in Family Court) and often don't have the ability to effectively represent themselves or the finances to hire an attorney," he said.

Henderson said if elected he won't be "hyper-technical" about enforcing rules with people who represent themselves.

"My paramount concern has to be protecting children and families."

Hoskin, 44, has practiced family law for 17 years and served as a judge pro tem in Family Court for six years.

The Clark County native and 1981 Bonanza High School graduate said his experience with family law, coupled with his experience as a husband and father of four, help him understand the needs and insights of families and children.

"A Family Court judge should be the most important judge," Hoskin said. "They have the most ability to affect society positively or negatively than any other elected position."

Hoskin said that because of his experience in Family Court, if elected he won't have the learning curve other new judges might.

"A lot of them, when they got elected, didn't understand family law," he said. "Families are affected during their learning curve."

Duffy and Maskall did not return calls for comment.

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