State attorney general picked to lead western conference

CARSON CITY - Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto will serve as chairwoman of the Conference of Western Attorneys General for the coming year.

Masto was chosen during the group's annual meeting in Anaheim, Calif. She served as vice chair this past year.

Her role marks only the third time in the organization's 44-year history that a Nevada attorney general has held the position. The most recent was Frankie Sue Del Papa, who served from 1994-1995.

Masto says she's honored for the opportunity.

The Conference of Western Attorneys General is a bipartisan group comprised of the attorneys general of 15 western states and three Pacific territories.

Founded in 1968, is addresses legal trends concerning issues in the West, such was water, public lands, environmental protection and Indian law.