Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
No Answer
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings or court houses.
No Answer
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Please see Question 10.
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
No Answer
George Washington's comment that “Religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil society” is still true today.
No Answer
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
I apologize for my inability to answer this question and many above but I hope you can understand that as a judge, I am bound by Judicial Canons of Ethics and I cannot offer opinions or answers that speak to, or inform on, issues which may come before the court for decision and/or which can be interpreted as revealing opinions about constitutional interpretations and philosophies.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
With regard to religion and spiritual beliefs, judges in Nevada are non-partisan offices and are held to the highest standards of impartiality, including not being driven in any decision making by religion or politics. I tend to take a conservative view on this but I also believe that the aforementioned Canons of Judicial Ethics require us to not publicize our particular religious or spiritual beliefs. That being said, without violating any ethical canons, I can say that I do believe myself to be a spiritual man and a very devout family man to my wife of 27 years (we met in college in Texas) and our two daughters. Everything I do seeks to validate and affirm their believe in me as a good man and a good judge.
In light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges allowing members of the same sex to marry, which justice’s opinion in that case most closely approximates your understanding of marriage?
Please see Question 10.
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2012 Republican Primary, 2012 General Election, 2014 Republican Primary, 2014 General Election, 2016 Republican Primary, 2016 General Election, 2018 Republican Primary, 2018 General Election
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
No Answer
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
N/A
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I am currently a trial court judge and the only judge in my race. That fact cannot be overstated. The job of a Supreme Court Justice is incredibly complicated and it is incumbent upon a Justice to have had experience as a trial court judge so as to competently and completely understand and appreciate what you are reviewing from an appellate standpoint. Moreover, I believe I have demonstrated for fifteen years that I am a very good judge who can be trusted to be thoughtful, prepared, courteous, independent and fair. I have always been very highly rated and received the highest performance score in District Court in the 2019 Judicial Evaluation surveys. As a judge, I have handled all manner of cases and I have been a Chief Judge for over ten years and have been involved in the administration of our court system. I have also served on numerous state wide commissions designed to improve our justice system and have developed deep working relationships with our current Supreme Court Justices
In what areas of law have you practiced?
Criminal Prosecutor - 1991-2005 (Head - Special Victims Unit 1998-2005) Nevada District Court Judge - 2005-present (Civil 2005-2008, Civil-Criminal 2008-2017, Criminal 2017-present, Chief Criminal Judge 2008-2017, Chief Homicide Judge 2017-present
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I have been working since I was twelve years old, younger if you include mowing lawns. I've cleaned toilets, polished floors, stocked shelves, worked as a busboy and in construction to help get through college and then as a runner delivering legal documents to gain experience before law school. I have great humility about who I am and the job I am privileged to do and I approach my life without ego ...except as to work ethic. I take great pride in having an unmatched work ethic. I very much understand and appreciate what it means to give people an honest day's work and to reward them for the trust and faith they place in you, especially when you work for the people in elected office. I promise to bring this work ethic and humility, along with almost 30 years of legal wisdom and skills and 15 years of creating a record of judicial excellence to the Nevada Supreme Court. Thank you so much for considering my candidacy.
The U.S. Constitution and my state constitution should be interpreted as living documents, rather than using a strict constructionist or originalist approach in judicial decisions.
No Answer
There are times when American judges should alter U.S. case law in order to comply with foreign case law.
No Answer
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
No Answer
There should be more than nine justices on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Disagree
Which current U.S. Supreme Court justice best reflects your judicial philosophy?
Please see Question 10.
Which U.S. president serving after 1960 best reflects your political philosophy?
Please see Question 10.
What is the proper use of legislative history in interpreting statutory law?
Every situation is different and the law is often not as clear and unambiguous as we would hope. As such, even though judges are obviously a separate branch of government tasked with interpreting and applying the law, that is, it is not our job to legislate or advocate, we occasionally must look to the history behind certain laws to give context and reason to their interpretation. Judges should always seek to respect the intent and actions of the legislature.
What specific text in the Declaration of Independence provides the critical basis for individual rights and the form of government guaranteed in the United States Constitution?
Please see Question 10.
