Gates gets more time to answer panel

CARSON CITY -- A Clark County district judge has been given more time to respond to a Judicial Discipline Commission complaint over contributions he made to the campaigns of two colleagues in 2004.

Judge Lee Gates now has until Jan. 22 to explain why he did not report the $5,000 donations to Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Karen Bennett-Haron and Supreme Court Justice Michael Douglas in a timely manner, and why he used leftover campaign funds to make the donations.

Gates did not report the contributions until filing an amended campaign report in 2007, after an investigation had already commenced into the contributions. Using leftover campaign money to contribute to other candidates is not among the approved uses of such funds.

A range of penalties is available, including an apology, fine or suspension from office, if the commission finds clear and convincing evidence of a violation.

Gates ran for re-election unopposed in 2002. He has not indicated yet if he intends to run again next year. Douglas Smith, currently the chief judge of the Las Vegas Township Justice Court, has announced that he will file for Gates' seat.