Three attorneys challenging Henderson municipal judge

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one in a series of stories previewing local municipal races for the April 2 primary election.

Henderson Municipal Court Judge Mark Stevens is being challenged in the race for Department 1 by attorneys who say they want to bring more balance to the courtroom.

Terry Jones Zach, an attorney at Mueller, Hinds & Associates, said because of affiliations with law enforcement, the Municipal Court, at times, isn’t as fair as possible.

“The incumbent was a police officer and a former prosecutor,” Zach said. “I don’t think there is a lot of diversity or objectivity. Most of his career was putting people into custody. I want to bring a balanced approach to protecting the community.”

Stevens, however, sees his experience in law enforcement as a positive attribute.

“It helped me see all aspects” of the system, he said.

Before working at Mueller, Hinds & Associates, Zach, 35, practiced criminal law for five years at the law offices of John J. Momot.

Several of Zach’s cases bring her to Henderson Municipal Court.

One issue Zach has seen in her cases is people who have been accused of misdemeanor crimes not being released on their own recognizance before trial.

“It is easier to be released (on a person’s own recognizance) in (Henderson) Justice Court than in Municipal Court,” Zach said.

She doesn’t want to be perceived as soft on crime, however.

“I’m not soft on crime, just big on the Constitution,” she said. “Everyone is entitled to be innocent until proven guilty. I see the problems firsthand and want to make a difference.”

Sandy DiGiacomo, chief deputy district attorney with the Clark County district attorney’s office, said she hopes to bring balance between punishment and rehabilitation.

“You want to protect the community but also help the people in front of you,” she said.

Because the court deals with misdemeanor crimes, the court should work to help keep people out of the criminal justice system, she said.

The other challenger, Gary Thompson, also wants to bring a different perspective to the courtroom.

“I bring a diverse background that’s not just defense or prosecution,” he said. “I bring a business background that helps bring diversity to the bench.”

Thompson, 47, has had his own practice since 1996. Before that he was a financial analyst for the Tropicana.

He joined the Chasey Honodel law firm in 2012 so his clients would have an easy transition in case he won the election.

Thompson has served as an alternative judge for the city of Las Vegas since 2010.

DiGiacomo, 44, ran unsuccessfully for the Henderson justice of the peace in 2009.

She was a private attorney before joining the district attorney’s office in 1999.

Stevens, 50, in 2007 ran unopposed for Department 1.

He started his career as an attorney with the Marine Corps. He has worked as a private attorney, at the Henderson Police Department and in the city attorney’s office.

“I love my job and hope to do it another six years,” he said.

Stevens helped start and oversees the Veterans Court, which helps offenders with military backgrounds who might have committed misdemeanors because of difficulty readjusting to life after returning home.

“It’s the highlight of my career,” Stevens said. “I’m a vet and have a burning desire to get these individuals on track. Many are suffering from PTSD or alcohol abuse.”

If elected, Stevens plans to add on to the Veterans Court program.

“It takes time to build,” he said. “We are working to improve it and attract more mentors” for program applicants.

All of the candidates stressed the importance of speciality programs such as Veterans Court, which look at root problems behind offenses.

“I believe they are good and benefit people, for the most part,” Thompson said. “Dealing with the underlying issues of alcohol and drugs helps reduce recidivism rates.”

Thompson said he would continue the Veterans Court but would want to help expand the Henderson youth offender court.

Zach said she would look into adding a court for cases involving the crime of driving under the influence, which would be an addition to the Alternative Breaking the Cycle court in Henderson that looks at addictive behaviors in the role of crime.

“I think it would be beneficial to add something specific for DUI (offenses),” she said.

DiGiacomo said speciality courts are important to the criminal justice system, “especially when you see people go through it and the programs work. The whole goal is that they don’t end up back in the system.”

DiGiacomo is open to seeing the courts expand.

“I think (specialty courts) are always good to grow,” DiGiacomo said. “It also depends on the current situation and what funding is available.”

Municipal Court judges serve six years and receive an annual salary of $137,867.

Early voting is March 16-29.

The primary is April 2, and the general election is June 4.

Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 702-387-5201.