Thomas Christensen
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Thomas Christensen is a 2008 candidate for the Nevada Supreme Court. He is running against sitting Nevada Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Gibbons.
Thomas Christensen was born in San Antonio, Texas, February 10, 1956. He was married August 17, 1978 to Kathryn Stewart, together, they have seven children.[1]
Christensen attended Brigham Young University where he obtained his B.S. in Mathematics in 1979. He then attended the J. Reuben Clark School of Law at Brigham Young University where he received his J.D. (in 1981). He was admitted to State Bar of Nevada in 1981.[2]
Christensen is admitted to practice in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court, District of Nevada and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. He has obtained a Martindale-Hubbell “A-V Rating".
- For more information, see the article Nevada Supreme Court elections.
2008 General Election Results
Thomas Christensen lost in his race to defeat incumbent Mark Gibbons. Justice Gibbons won with 456,467 votes (55%) while Christensen received 210,092 votes, or 25% ("None of these candidates" yielded 166,188 votes, or 20%).[3]
Campaign themes
Christensen says that his run for Nevada's highest court was inspired by the court's decision in Guinn v. Legislature, a 2003 decision in which the court overruled a requirement that tax increases pass the legislature with a 2/3 majority. In its controversial decision, the court allowed what critics call an unapproved $800 million tax increase for school funding.
The court should decide cases "based on the Constitution, statute and precedent", not based on a political agenda, Christensen has said.
Christensen also says:
- "Decisions shouldn't be made based on whether justices agree with the law, but based on what the law is."
- He is concerned with the Supreme Court's "willingness to render unpublished opinions. Our Supreme Court overuses them and uses them in the wrong circumstances."
- When judges deviate from precedent, the Constitution and state statute it can result in "muddy judicial thinking, improper decisions and, even worse, preferential treatment to certain litigants."
- "It's something that the Supreme Court has to be the leader on and be extra careful and not get close to that questionable area. It's too easy to hurt the public trust."[4]
Campaign Contributions
Mark Gibbons raised more than $316,000 from January 1,2008 to July 31,2008, compared with his opponent, Thomas Christensen, who reported $10,500 in contributions.[5]
Awards and Associations
- Certified Civil Law Advocate
- Nevada State Bar Association
- Nevada Trial Lawyers Association (Board of Governors, 1991-Present)
- The Association of Trial Lawyers of America; National Board of Trial Advocacy
- American Association for Justice, Member 1982 - Present
- National Board of Trial Advocacy, Member
- Nevada District Court, Arbitrator 1992 - Present
- Nevada Supreme Court Appeal Settlement Conference Program, Arbitrator[6]
External Links
- Las Vegas lawyer challenges Nevada chief justice on 2003 budget case vote
- Thomas Christensen's Website
- Las Vegas Review Journal Voter Guide
- Elko Daily Free Press: Judicial candidate: High court violates public trust
- Nevada Appeal: Politics a role in state Supreme Court races
