2012 PRIMARY ELECTION: LAS VEGAS JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DEPARTMENT 5
Two private attorneys are out to unseat a five-term incumbent in the race for Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Department 5.
Cynthia Dustin-Cruz and Robert Kurth are running against William Jansen, justice of the peace for 26 years. The top two vote-getters in the June 12 primary will square off in the general election in November.
In the recent Review-Journal Judging the Judges poll, Jansen received a 73 percent retention rating from 103 lawyers, similar to his 2010 score. However, several attorneys suggested it was time for him to retire. He took the bench after a career as an FBI agent.
One of his opponents, Kurth, has made an issue of Jansen potentially retiring midterm, such as the recently departed District Judge Donald Mosley and District Attorney David Roger.
"I don't think he will finish a six-year term," Kurth said. "I think he'd end up stopping. If he was re-elected, his term could end up being filled with an appointment from the (county) commission."
But Jansen contends retirement isn't in the plans.
"If the dear Lord's willing I will finish (the term) out. I'm in good health. I just had my physical and I passed with flying colors."
The problem for the Drake University law school graduate is he has no hobbies.
"My hobby has always been work," Jansen said.
Jansen said he tries on a daily basis to "render fair and reasonable justice." He also quipped that he must be "OK at it, since I've been elected five times."
Jansen's other opponent, Dustin-Cruz, said if elected she would embrace various technology advancements to speed up efficiency in the court.
Dustin-Cruz said "the judge bug bit" when she was a judicial law clerk in federal and district court.
She was also a small-business owner prior to attending law school at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Since being admitted to the bar in 2003, Dustin-Cruz has handled both criminal and civil cases.
This is Dustin-Cruz's first time running for a judgeship.
Kurth, a University of Denver law school graduate and six-time judicial candidate, says his 20 years of experience practicing law has afforded him "the demeanor and the fairness necessary" to be a judge.
"I will be tough on crime and respect every one's rights," Kurth said.
And he believes his decade of experience as an arbitrator, a child support hearing master and a small claims court referee will allow him to smoothly transition into the judgeship.
"It's time for a new face" in Department 5, Kurth said.
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.
Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Department 5 Name: Cynthia Dustin-Cruz Party affiliation: Nonpartisan Age: 44 Occupation: Attorney Name: William Jansen* (incumbent) Party affiliation: Nonpartisan Age: 76 Occupation: Justice of the Peace Name: Robert Kurth Party affiliation: Nonpartisan Age: 44 Occupation: Attorney JUSTICES OF THE PEACE DUTIES, PAY
Justices of the peace are responsible for setting bail and handling preliminary hearings and initial arraignments for felony cases before the cases proceed to District Court. Justices also oversee misdemeanor and small-claims cases to their completion. They serve six-year terms. Justices of the peace in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas receive $153,449 a year. Justices in Laughlin are paid $99,742 a year. Justices in Mesquite and Moapa Valley receive $73,303 a year. Justices in Searchlight receive an annual salary of $61,380. The judgeships are nonpartisan offices.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
