Don Chairez
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Don Chairez, a former Clark County district judge, recently ran for a spot on the Nevada Supreme Court (seat B). His opponents were Nancy Allf, Kris Pickering and Deborah Schumacher. The August 12, 2008 election narrowed the field to Pickering and Schumacher.
Support for private property
In 2006, Chairez co-authored a statewide ballot initiative, the PISTOL ballot initiative, that curbs the ability of the government to seize private property. "The PISTOL (People's Initiative To Stop the Taking of Our Land) initiative was created to restrict the power of local and state government... in cases of eminent domain abuse."[1]
Chairez's initiative passed the first hurdle in 2006 when the ballot question passed by an overwhelming margin of 62 percent to 38 percent. For the proposed constitutional amendment to become law it must pass again in the November 4, 2008 general election.[2]
Landmark Rulings
In the landmark ruling City of Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency v. Pappas, Chairez ruled that the City of Las Vegas was wrong to declare the Pappas property as blighted and wrong to take the property – under the guise of “valid public use.” [3]
In the landmark ruling City of Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency v. Aztec Inn when the city of Las Vegas took the parking lot of the Aztec Inn Casino in order to hand it over to the Stratosphere Casino, Judge Chairez ruled that the city’s actions did not constitute a valid public use. Judge Chairez's decision was among the first in the nation to curb government abuse of eminent domain powers for redevelopment, and the very first in the state of Nevada. [4]
Judge Chairez's respect for property owners' rights did gone unnoticed. In fact, the Las Vegas Review-Journal hailed him as the "Hero" of private property rights. [5]
Judicial Philosophy
"To me the promises in the constitution are not worthless words in some old, dead document."[6]
On Lethal Injection[7]
When asked during his candidacy for state attorney general whether Nevada should have a moratorium on execution-by-lethal-injection (until high courts had decided the issue themselves), Chairez responded:
"No, until the Nevada Supreme Court or the U.S. Supreme Court say that it is unconstitutional as 'cruel and unusual punishment.' I also believe those challenges will fail in the U.S. Supreme Court. As a judge who has voted for the death penalty in the past, signing papers that say "Warrant of Death" or "Warrant of Execution" is very sobering. All killing of humans is unpleasant business, but having a moratorium on the use of lethal injections is not the answer."
On Warrantless Federal Searches[8]
When asked "Do you believe the privacy of Nevada citizens should be protected, including from warrantless federal searches?" Judge Chairez responded:
"Yes, and absolutely. The Bill of Rights is gradually becoming meaningless, since the Congress and the Courts constantly look for ways to give the government more power."
Legal Education and Experience
Chairez received his B.A. from Loma Linda University, and his J.D. from the University of Southern California (1980), Chairez has 27 years of legal experience-- as a lawyer, as the former Deputy DA in Washoe and Clark Counties (NV), and District Court Judge (Clark County) from 1994-1998.[9]
Previous Elections
Chairez ran as the GOP candidate for state attorney general in 2006 but lost to Catherine Cortez Masto. Masto outspent Chairez by a 10-to-1 ratio. [10] In 2002, he ran against sitting Supreme Court Justice William Maupin and lost. Maupin outspent Chairez by a margin of 5-to-1. In 1998 Don Chairez lost to Shelley Berkley by only 3 percentage points despite being outspent by 4 to 1. [11]
Associations and Awards
Chairez was appointed a District Court Judge by Governor Miller in 1994, a position to which he was later elected. Don served on the bench until 1998. He was named "Judge of the Year" in 1996 by the Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs, served as Deputy District Attorney in Clark County from 1990 to 1994 where he helped put criminals behind bars through his diligent work prosecuting felons, and completed the "Prosecution of Violent Criminals" program through National College of District Attorneys.[12]
Political Affiliation and Campaign Contributions
While Chairez partially funded both of his campaigns for the Nevada Supreme Court (in 2002) and Attorney General of Nevada ($35,000 and $33,750, respectively), he accrued contributions from other sources as well:
For his 2006 Attorney General bid:
- Lawyers & Lobbyists $32,875
- Oil & Gas $10,000
- Party Committees $6,800
- Securities & Investment $5,000
- Miscellaneous Transport $2,500
For a complete list of Chairez's 2006 campaign finances see his Follow the Money page.
For his 2002 Supreme Court bid:
- Business Services $56,000
- Miscellaneous Services $10,000
- Securities & Investment $9,000
- Food & Beverage $5,000
- Anti-Gun Control $1,657
For a complete list of Chairez's 2002 campaign finances see his Follow the Money page.
Endorsements
- Nevada Patriot Group
External Links
- Don Chairez for Supreme Court, candidate's website.
- Nevada Appeal Q & A
- Primary Election ballot will be pretty sparse
- Reno Gazette Journal Voter's Guide
- July 26 interview with Chairez in the Nevada Appeal
References
- ↑ Don Chairez for Nevada Supreme Court
- ↑ [1] LVRJ Article on 2006 Property Rights Ballot Question
- ↑ 1996 July 4th LVRJ Article
- ↑ [http://www.chairez.com/protecting.htm Don Chairez for Supreme Court
- ↑ Property rights restored
- ↑ Don Chairez for Nevada Supreme Court
- ↑ RGJ 2006 Voter Guide
- ↑ RGJ 2006 Voter Guide
- ↑ RGJ 2006 Voter Guide: Candidate Detail Don Chairez
- ↑ [2] 2006 Nevada Attorney General Race
- ↑ Review Journal: Shelley Berkley Biographical Information
- ↑ Don Chairez for Nevada Supreme Court
