Judge told own up to donations

CARSON CITY -- The state Judicial Discipline Commission unanimously has adopted an agreement that requires Clark County District Judge Lee Gates to acknowledge making two improper political donations in 2004.

But the agreement announced Tuesday, under which Gates would escape any fines or criminal charges, cannot be executed formally until a later date when it can be discussed at a public hearing.

Gates' lawyer, Thomas Pitaro, is busy on a federal case and will not be available until after that trial is over. Once he finishes, Pitaro must make arrangements with the commission to schedule a hearing on the Gates agreement.

Under the agreement, Gates must acknowledge making two improper $5,000 donations from his unspent campaign funds in 2004.

The donations, made to Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Karen Bennett-Haron and Nevada Supreme Court Justice Michael Douglas, used contributions left over from Gates' 2002 re-election campaign, when he was unopposed.

Using leftover campaign money to contribute to other candidates is not among the approved uses of such funds.

Gates also will be required to attend at his own expense a course on ethical issues in the law offered by the National Judicial College. In addition, he must accept full responsibility for the violation, issue a public apology and receive and accept a public censure from the commission.

Gates, who announced earlier this month that he would not seek re-election, was appointed to the bench in 1991. Before that, he was a deputy public defender, private attorney and deputy district attorney.

He is married to former Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates, who is facing a Las Vegas police investigation into whether she illegally paid relatives campaign funds that were funneled back to her.

Also, Gates' stepson, Brian Atkinson Turner, is facing child endangerment and drug charges.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or (775) 687-3901.