Supervisors look at court vacancy, committee seats

At the first meeting of the new year, the Carson City Board of Supervisors will decide how to fill the vacancy in department 2 of the city’s Justice and Municipal Court.

The meeting starts at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the board room of the community center, 851 E. William St.

According to a staff report, current Justice of the Peace Kristin Luis’ last day in the role is Friday. First elected in 2018, Luis was recently appointed by Gov. Joe Lombardo to fill Judge James Wilson’s seat in First Judicial District Court. Wilson is retiring Jan. 8.

State law allows the Board of Supervisors to either appoint a justice of the peace for the interim until the next election or to pass a resolution calling for a special election.

Luis’ current seat is up in 2024 along with Justice of the Peace Thomas Armstrong’s seat. Whether through appointment or special election, the interim justice would serve the rest of Luis’ term that ends Jan. 5, 2025.

“Because an election for this office is already scheduled and due to the expense of holding a special election, staff recommends appointing a person to serve the remainder of Judge Luis' term,” reads a staff report.

In materials released for Thursday’s meeting, the city provided a timeline of the recommended appointment process. Those interested in being appointed would have until Jan. 19 to apply.

On Jan. 22, “A selection committee will be designated by the city manager and will review the applications. The selection committee may elect to conduct interviews or may submit finalists to the Board of Supervisors,” according to the proposed timeline. The committee would select five finalists and submit them to the Board of Supervisors. At their Feb. 1 meeting, supervisors would interview the finalists and appoint an interim justice of the peace.

Unlike district court judges, justices of the peace in communities with a population of under 100,000 don’t need to be licensed attorneys, according to NRS 4.010. They must be qualified electors, however, and have a high school diploma.

The application lists the base salary for justice of the peace at $145,000 per year. Filing for judicial office in the 2024 election began Tuesday.

In other action, supervisors will consider several committee and board appointments:

• Possible appointment of one member to the Carson City Planning Commission for a term that expires in January 2028.

“Vacancies occurring in years between elections for the Board of Supervisors must be filled by the mayor from the city at-large, with the approval of the board, through the acceptance of applications submitted by interested applicants,” reads a staff report. “There is one open position due to the expiration of a term, and this vacancy is in between election years for the Board of Supervisors. New applications were submitted by Greg Brooks, Dawn Calhoun and Maxine Nietz.”

• Possible appointment of two members to the Carson City Open Space Advisory Committee, each for terms expiring in January 2028.

“There are two vacancies due to expiration of terms,” says a staff summary. “A reappointment request was submitted by Samuel Mozingo. New applications were received from Robert Pyzel, Edward Skudlarek, Mary Siders, Diane Thornton, John Duerk, Aeryn Mcqueary and Alexi Lanza.”

• Possible appointment of one member to the Carson City Cultural Commission for a term that expires in January 2027.

“A reappointment request was submitted by Barbara D'anneo,” according to a staff summary. “A new application was submitted by Deborah Lambin.”

• Supervisors also will consider their own appointments to various boards. Later convening as the Redevelopment Authority, they will select amongst themselves someone to join the Redevelopment Authority Citizens Committee for a three-year term.