State Senate passes plan to appoint judges

CARSON CITY (AP) — The state Senate voted 14-7 on Wednesday for a plan that would end Nevada’s current system of electing judges and replace it with a variation of the so-called Missouri plan system of appointing jurists.

SJR2, now moving to the state Assembly for final legislative action, would amend the Nevada Constitution to switch open judicial races to appointments, followed by elections in which voters would decide whether to retain a judge.

The plan, approved by the 2007 Legislature, must be approved again this session in order to go to a public vote in 2010.

There was no discussion as senators voted on the proposal. Its proponents include Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, who during an earlier hearing argued for SJR2 by making comparisons between judges soliciting for campaign contributions and “a hooker down by the bus station.”

Opponents included Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, who said after the Senate vote that Nevada should keep the existing method of electing judges.

Amodei said the proposal wouldn’t solve the need for judges to raise campaign funds. He said such funds still would be needed if incumbents faced opposition from a political action committee trying to keep them from being retained in office.

Under SJR2, judges initially would be appointed to their jobs by a selection committee that would include both lawyer and non-lawyer members. If a judge didn’t get at least 55 percent of the vote, a new judicial appointment would be made.