Las Vegas attorney advances toward federal judgeship

WASHINGTON — Las Vegas attorney Andrew Patrick Gordon advanced toward a federal judgeship in Nevada after winning approval Thursday from the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The next and final stop for Gordon’s confirmation is the full Senate, where he has support from Nevada’s senators to fill one of three vacancies in the Nevada court district.

The future remains undetermined for two other candidates who were proposed by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and nominated by President Barack Obama to fill openings on the Nevada court.

The Judiciary Committee is awaiting permission from Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., to hold a confirmation hearing on Las Vegas attorney Jennifer Dorsey, who was nominated Sept. 19, the same day as Gordon.

Dorsey’s record still is being examined, according to a Heller spokeswoman.

A third nominee, Clark County District Judge Elissa Cadish, was proposed by Obama in February 2012 but is being blocked by Heller after questions were raised last year about her views on gun rights.

Reid has supported Cadish, declaring her “at the top of the list” for a Nevada judgeship.

Asked about Cadish on Wednesday at a Nevada delegation meeting, Reid said it remained a matter between him and Heller.

“That’s something we are trying to work out on our own,” he said.

Gordon’s nomination has proved noncontroversial.

He was born in 1962 and graduated in 1987 from Harvard Law School. Gordon is a partner at McDonald, Carano and Wilson LLP, where he has handled primarily civil litigation and dispute resolution.

The three vacancies on Nevada’s seven-judge federal bench were created when veteran judges took senior status that carries a reduced caseload.

Gordon would fill the seat vacated by Judge Kent Dawson, who took senior status in July.

Obama nominated Cadish to succeed Judge Philip Pro, who took senior status at the end of 2011. Dorsey was nominated to succeed Judge Larry Hicks, who took senior status in September.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760. Follow him on Twitter @STetreaultDC.