ELY -- The Nevada Commission on Judicial Selection today named three finalists to fill the vacancy on the 7th Judicial District Court bench that is the occurring because of the retirement of District Judge Dan Papez after 30 years of public service, including 20 years on the bench, Nevada Supreme Court Chief Justice Kristina Pickering announced.
The nominees were selected after interviews by the Nevada Commission on Judicial Selection today in Ely. The names of the finalists have been sent to Gov. Brian Sandoval, who will appoint the new judges from the list.
The Commission’s three nominees for Judge Papez’s seat, in alphabetical order, are:
•Kelly C. Brown, 53, Ely, White Pine County District Attorney
•Gary E. Fairman, 60, Ely, with Gary D. Fairman, P.C.
•Robert E. Gaston, 73, Las Vegas, with Gaston Resolution
Four attorneys submitted applications for the vacancy. Applicants had to be Nevada attorneys with 10 years of legal experience, two of those in Nevada. The 7th Judicial District encompasses Eureka, Lincoln and White Pine Counties.
The Governor’s appointee will serve the remainder of the judicial term, which expires in January 2015. The appointed judge must run in the 2014 General Election and win to retain the seat.
No time limit exists for the Governor to make his appointments. However, if appointments are not made within 30 days following submission of names by the Commission, the Governor may make no other appointments to public office.
-- From news release
