Kent Dawson
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Kent Dawson is an Article III federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Nevada. He joined the court in 2000 after being nominated by President Bill Clinton.
Early life and education
A native of Utah, Dawson graduated from Weber State College with his Bachelor's Degree in 1969 and later graduated from the University of Utah School of Law with his Juris Doctorate Degree in 1971.
Legal career
Dawson began his legal career as a Law clerk for Distirct Judge James Guinan in the Washoe District Court based in Reno from 1971 to 1972. Then in 1972, served as a full-term Assistant city attorney for the City of Henderson from 1972 to 1973 then later that year became the lead City Attorney and served in that role until 1979. Also, Dawson served for the City of Henderson as the City Manager in 1977 and served over 22 years as the General counsel to City of Henderson Public Improvement Trust from 1973 to 1995. Dawson spent the rest of his pre-judicial legal career as a private practice licensed in the State of Nevada from 1979 to 1995 and also served as Judge Pro Tempore for the Henderson Municipal Court from 1993 to 1995. Before being nominated to the Federal bench in 2000, Dawson served as Justice of the peace for the Henderson Henderson Justice Court based in Clark County from 1995 to 2000.
Federal judicial career
On the recommendation of Nevada U.S. Senators Harry Reid and Richard Bryan Hunt was nominated by President Bill Clinton on April 6, 2000 to a new seat created by 113 Stat. 1501 which was approved by Congress. Hunt was confirmed by the Senate on May 24, 2000 on a majority voice vote and received commission on May 31, 2000[1].
Prisoner liver transplant
On August 25, 2009, Judge Dawson denied the request of the leader of a Ayran prison gang to have a liver transplant[2].
Ronald "Joey" Sellers lawyers argued on Tuesday that the transplant is necessary to save his life after contracting hepatitis C in a Nevada State Prison[2].
The judge ruled that the government would fund the operation, but there was hospital willing to do the procedure; however the inmate's lawyers will ask for the inmate to be transferred to a facility with better medical equipment[2].
ACLU recusual attempt
Judge Dawson on August 13, 2009, denied a request from the American Civil Liberties Union to recuse himself in a tax evasion trial over subpoena issued to the Las Vegas Review-Journal[3].
The ACLU asked for the recusual after Judge Dawson requested the Las Vegas newspaper to release the names of people who issued comments on their website over the trials of Robert Kahre and Irwin Schiff[3].
However, the judge would remain on the case despite the ACLU asked for the recusual because of the judge's association between the two defendants[3].
External links
- Judge Dawson's Webpage at the United States District Court for the District of Nevada
- Judge Dawson's Biography at the Federal Judicial Center
References
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Federal judges of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada |
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| Active judges | |
| Senior judges | |
| Magistrate judges | |
| Former judges |
Baldwin • Claiborne • Farrington • Foley • R.T. Foley • Hagen • Hawley • Hillyer • Norcross • Rawlinson • Ross • Sabin • Sandoval • Thompson |
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The Nevada Project on Judgepedia
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