With my experience in the specialized court, I would view convictions in minor misdemeanor cases as an opportunity to help the defendant deal with the underlying trauma that may be the cause of their criminal misconduct or misconduct that brought them to court. By understanding that an accused`s behavior can be a way to cope with a traumatic experience, correctional courts can formulate a verdict that not only helps the defendant cope with that traumatic experience, but also reduces recidivism and avoids criminal behavior in the future. You would carry out evictions if elected. Given the current housing crisis in our community, what kinds of challenges do you see in this role and how, if so, will the condition of the housing be considered in your decision-making? An essential feature of the modern criminal court is the understanding that an individual`s behaviour is not always the result of character flaws, nor necessarily symptoms of mental illness. On the contrary, they may behave in such a way that they are used to cope with the effects of a traumatic experience. This awareness does not excuse the criminal behaviour of the accused, but should prompt the court to adopt a new punitive approach that could better reduce recidivism. I served in the Washoe County Public Defense System for nearly 15 years, litigating cases ranging from misdemeanors to death penalty cases. In 2007, I was selected as one of the first lawyers to fill the new Office of the Deputy Public Defender. In 2010, I made the leap into private practice. I am the only candidate who has been a judge pro tem.
I have held such a position at the Sparks City Court, the Sparks Court of Justice, the Reno Court of Justice and the Reclining Court of Justice for the last four or five years. This experience led to my appointment as a judicial adjudicator at the Reno Court of Justice in January, a newly created position dealing with torts, small claims and other matters. Additionally, I am the only candidate with experience in a special court (a court-supervised holistic treatment program often used for defendants with substance abuse and/or mental health issues). I was assigned to the Reno City Court Co-Occurrence Disorder Court for 8 years. Depending on where you serve, not all justices of the peace conduct deportations, and not all justices of the peace conduct criminal proceedings, but each case is done on a case-by-case basis. You need to be scrupulously fair when listening to the tenant and embarrassing when listening to the landlord and following the process. Eviction is important: they are not easy, and they are sensitive to time, they can last eight days or 35 days. It is difficult because you decide whether someone can live in their house, but I do not know if the law allows judges to exercise discretion because there is a housing crisis. Moratoriums may be considered, but judicial discretion may not be appropriate.
The role of a judge is to resolve disputes without bias or undue influence. I will do so with compassion, reason and a correct interpretation of the law. Everyone who appears before the court should have equal and unfettered access to the rights and protection accorded to him. I am an experienced lawyer in criminal, civil and family law. I have represented both victims of crime and accused persons. I have dedicated my career to public service and service to our community. Parliament has created sanction options that allow a person to participate in specialized evidence-based tribunals. These are economical dishes that emphasize community rehabilitation and safety. I have worked to improve access to these tribunals, including the Veterans Review Board. The laws specify what a judge can consider when sentencing people convicted of prostitution and people with substance use disorders. If elected, I will be fair and impartial.
Across the country, there has been a great deal of scrutiny and sentencing reform when it comes to offences such as prostitution and drug use. What approach do you see in condemning crimes, particularly in these categories? My experience and length of practice, in particular my experience as a hearing officer and my legal experience. I spent 26 years in the Washoe County District Attorney`s Office, working on cases that deal with everything from dog barking and misdemeanors to murder and child sexual abuse cases. I was on the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline – essentially a judge (I heard the allegations of misconduct against judges), and I was a member of the Northern Nevada Disciplinary Board (I heard the allegations of misconduct against lawyers). What makes you uniquely qualified for this position? In 2021, the Nevada Legislature passed Assembly Bill 486 in response to the housing crisis and COVID pandemic. If the tenant has a pending application for rent assistance, they cannot be evicted (nor can the tenant be evicted if the landlord refuses to participate in the application process or refuses to accept rent assistance).