EDITORIAL: Court races

The Review-Journal editorial board offers the following endorsements and recommendations in other District Court and Family Court primaries:

In District Court, Department 2, voters should limit their consideration to three highly experienced attorneys: Richard Scotti, Bill Skupa and John Watkins. Phung Jefferson is far less experienced and doesn’t care to discuss the campaign fundraising crimes of her husband, disgraced former Assemblyman Morse Arberry.

In District Court, Department 24, the Review-Journal endorses Jim Crockett. Mr. Crockett is far more experienced and accomplished than Anthony Ashby or Joe Hardy Jr. The fourth candidate in this race, perennial candidate Tony Liker, isn’t qualified for the bench.

In Family Court, Department B, voters should decide between Family Court Hearing Master Jane Femiano and attorney Shann Winesett, the best candidates in an eight-lawyer field. Linda Marquis, meanwhile, strikes us as unqualified because of her lack of family law experience.

In Family Court, Department C, the Review-Journal endorses Rebecca Burton, one of just 34 family law specialists certified by the State Bar of Nevada, to replace indicted, suspended Judge Steven Jones.

In Department J, voters should limit consideration to Rena Hughes and Romeo Perez, and end the re-election bid of Kenneth Pollock, the lowest-rated Family Court judge in last year’s Review-Journal judicial performance survey.

In Family Court, Department L, Mary Perry, who began practicing law in 2001, is below the cut line. Voters should limit consideration to incumbent Jennifer Elliott and Paul Gaudet.

Sandra Pomrenze, the incumbent in Family Court, Department P, was one of the lowest-rated judges in last year’s Review-Journal survey — 53 percent of attorneys said she should not be retained. Voters should support either of her challengers, David R. Ford or Nathan Gibbs.

Department T incumbent Gayle Nathan rated poorly in the Review-Journal’s performance survey, with 52 percent of attorneys recommending she not be retained. But one of her challengers is a far worse option: former Judge Lisa Brown, who was voted out of office in 2008 after posting even lower scores in the Review-Journal survey. Voters should support either Judge Nathan or perennial candidate Maria Maskall.