First lady asks to move divorce trial

CARSON CITY -- An attorney for Nevada first lady Dawn Gibbons, who has been hit with a divorce complaint from Gov. Jim Gibbons, filed a demand Tuesday to have the closed-door divorce trial moved from Carson City to Reno.

Attorney Cal Dunlap said the governor's attorney, Gary Silverman, stated in the governor's complaint filed on Friday that both Dawn and Jim Gibbons list Reno as their permanent legal residence.

"We agree," Dunlap said in explanation as to why the change of venue was being requested.

He said the demand, an initial requirement in such cases, will be followed up by a formal motion elaborating on reasons for the request.

The case is now before Carson City District Judge Bill Maddox, who on Monday sealed the files in the case and provided for a closed-door trial.

Dunlap said he is considering filing an appeal of the Monday order but added that he hadn't made a final decision on that yet.

While the Nevada Supreme Court ruled in December that most civil case records must be open, Maddox cited a specific state law that allows for the sealing of such records and the trial at the request of either person in a divorce case.

Dunlap has said Dawn Gibbons would prefer that the divorce files and trial be open "like any other legal proceeding."