Litigation

Business Support Rising for NV Ballot Measure

By Peter Hardin

Support is rising in Nevada’s business community for changing the way judges are selected in the state.

In addition to the State Bar of Nevada, the Chambers of Commerce of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas have endorsed a proposal for judicial appointments that will come before voters in November, the Las Vegas Business Press reported.

Las Vegas Chamber president Matthew Crosson contended the quality of a state’s courts influences business decisions about locating there:

“It’s important for the business community because business disputes are typically resolved in court, and businesses want to know that judges are familiar with business issues and free of political patronage and influence.”

If voters support amending Nevada?s constitution, the state would scrap elections of Supreme Court justices and District Court judges when a vacancy occurs, and replace elections with what is widely called the Missouri Plan.

The proposal envisions a Commission on Judicial Selection making recommendations to the governor, who would in turn fill a vacancy based on candidate?s qualifications. At the next general election, the judge would face voters in an up-or-down retention election. You can learn more from Gavel Grab.

Full post as published by The Gavel on September 14, 2010 (boomark / email).