Reid list could be diverse

A group of white men has been presiding over U.S. District Court cases in Nevada since Brian Sandoval, who is Hispanic, stepped down in mid-September to mount his campaign for governor.

That could soon change.

In keeping with President Barack Obama's emphasis on diversifying the federal bench, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has approached at least two women about filling the vacancy left by Sandoval's departure: Gloria Navarro, who is Hispanic, and Elissa Cadish.

"I think it's important that our federal bench reflect the diversity of Nevada, and I think it's time. Actually, I think it's overdue," said Kathy England, a longtime Las Vegas attorney.

"Now that our profession has become more diverse, Senator Reid is in the enviable position of having a lot more highly qualified candidates."

As the senior Democrat in Nevada's congressional delegation, Reid has the privilege of recommending candidates for the state's political patronage jobs while a Democrat occupies the White House.

Reid has refused to answer any questions about his efforts to choose Sandoval's replacement.

Reid selected the last woman who sat as a U.S. district judge in Nevada: Johnnie Rawlinson.

She was the first black woman in the state's history to hold that position, which she occupied from 1998 until 2000, when she was sworn in as the first black woman on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Reid proposed her promotion to the appeals court.

England, who joined the Nevada bar 31 years ago, approached Reid at a fundraiser a few months ago and offered him the names of seven people she thought would be outstanding replacements for Sandoval. Speaking only for herself and not as president of the State Bar of Nevada, England shared her views about the need for diversity on the federal bench.

Though England did not put Navarro and Cadish on her list for Reid, she told the Review-Journal that both women would be excellent choices.

"I don't think there's any one hugely right person," said England, a civil rights lawyer. "There are many highly qualified potential candidates."

Cadish, who has been a Clark County district judge for two years, said Reid interviewed her several weeks ago at his home in Searchlight.

"I'm not sure exactly how my name came to his attention," she said.

Cadish, 45, said she spent about half an hour with the senator. She expects him to make a decision "relatively quickly."

Navarro, a chief deputy district attorney, has worked in the civil division of the Clark County district attorney's office for five years.

The majority of the cases she handles are litigated in federal court.

She previously spent more than three years handling murder cases for the special public defender's office. Both Cadish and Navarro have experience in private practice.

Navarro, 42, wouldn't discuss the details of her interview with Reid.

"It's very humbling and an honor to be considered," she said.

Navarro, the child of Cuban immigrants, speaks both English and Spanish. Although Hispanic, Sandoval does not speak Spanish.

After Sandoval left his judicial position, which is based in Reno, U.S. District Judge Robert Jones volunteered to move from Las Vegas to Reno. That means the vacant position is now based in Las Vegas.

Jones said he has been covering Sandoval's caseload, as well as his own.

"I see it as for the necessity of the court, because I'm keeping that huge burden from being imposed on all of my colleagues," the judge said.

The court has positions for two active judges in Reno and five in Las Vegas. Several senior U.S. district judges, who are semi-retired, also hear cases in the state on a regular basis.

Jones said he knows both Cadish and Navarro, "and they're both terrific candidates."

The judge said he expects Reid to forward three names to the White House.

"The senator assures us that the process is moving quickly," Jones said.

Once Obama makes a nomination, the Senate Judiciary Committee will conduct confirmation hearings.

"The biggest roadblock is scheduling the Judiciary Committee hearing," said Jones, who was appointed by President George W. Bush.

Carl Tobias, a former law professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has been tracking Obama's judicial appointments and said the president "has nominated unprecedented numbers and percentages of women and minorities."

Tobias, now teaching at the University of Richmond in Virginia, said Sandoval's decision to give up a lifetime appointment after just a few years is unusual.

Tobias said he thinks U.S. district judges have an obligation to serve for "a reasonable amount of time."

"The vast majority of judges do serve until they take senior status," he said.

However, Tobias said, serving as a federal judge "is a pretty cloistered existence."

"It's pretty lonely for the judges," he said.

Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710.