The Nevada Commission on Judicial Selection decided this morning to review confidential materials before making a decision on the next steps for filling the judicial vacancy in the Second Judicial District Court, Dept. 2. The seat was made vacant by the appointment in November of Judge Egan Walker to the Second Judicial District Court, Dept. 7.
The lone applicant is Dixie Grossman, 42, a court master in the Second Judicial District Court – Family Division. Grossman is a Nevada attorney with 10 years of legal experience and the necessary years of Nevada residency.
The Commission scheduled a meeting and possible interview of Ms. Grossman for March 12. According to Commission rules, her name can be forwarded to Governor Brian Sandoval without an interview. The Commission also can conduct an interview prior to sending her name to the Governor, or start the judicial selection process again and seek other applicants.
The Supreme Court website at http://nvcourts.link/NVJudicialSelection contains Ms. Grossman’s application. Confidential information, such as medical records and personal identification information, has been redacted.
The Commission invites written public comments about the applicant qualifications. The deadline for the public to send confidential letters is March 2, 2018.
Commission rules allow letters to remain confidential if requested by the letter writer. However, the Commission may discuss the contents of the letter with the applicant during executive session. Commissioners may not consider anonymous letters at their discretion.
The Nevada Commission on Judicial Selection is composed of seven permanent members – the Supreme Court Chief Justice, three non-attorneys appointed by the Governor, and three attorneys appointed by the State Bar of Nevada. Neither the Governor nor the State Bar may appoint more than two permanent members from the same political party, and cannot appoint two members from the same county.
Commission Members:
- Justice Michael L. Douglas, Carson City, Supreme Court Chief Justice, Chair (Constitutional appointee)
- Valerie Cooney, Carson City, past executive director, Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevadans (State Bar appointee)
- Jeffrey Gilbert, Henderson, veteran gaming executive (Governor appointee)
- Jesse Gutierrez, Sparks, former executive director, Nevada Hispanic Services (Governor appointee)
- Gregory Kamer, Esq., Las Vegas, attorney, Kramer Zuker Abbott (State Bar appointee)
- Jasmine Mehta, Esq., Reno, Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners (State Bar appointee)
- Leslie Williams, Schurz, division director, Finance and Administration, Washoe County Social Services (Governor appointee)
For District Court vacancies, two temporary members are appointed from the judicial district where the vacancy occurs – a non-attorney by the Governor and an attorney by the State Bar – bringing the Commission membership to nine.
Temporary Commission Members:
- Wendy Damonte, Reno, Vice President of Advocacy and Community Partnership, Renown Hospital (Governor appointee)
- Rost Olsen, Sparks, staff attorney, Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevadans (State Bar appointee)