Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal Returning Assemblywoman Bonnie Parnell, D-Carson City, left, listens as freshman lawmaker Assemblyman Joe Hogan, D-Las Vegas, asks questions of Legislative Auditor Paul Townsend during an orientation for new lawmakers Tuesday.
For 10 members of the Assembly and two Senators, today's impeachment proceedings will be their first legislative experience.
They were elected a week ago and, as of Tuesday, hadn't even had their victories officially certified by the state. The official canvass of the election isn't until Nov. 24.
Nonetheless, the constitution says they are Nevada's legislators so they will be sworn into office at 10 a.m. today by the chief justice of the Nevada Supreme Court.
The group received a cram course in legislative procedures Tuesday by Lorne Malkiewich, director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau, and his staff.
Malkiewich told them this is uncharted territory for all 63 members of the Legislature and staff - not just for the new legislators.
He also told them not to make any plans for the next few days.
"We will work through Veterans Day and the weekend," he said. "So if you have plans for Friday night, you may want to cancel them."
Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at nevadaappeal@sbcglobal.net or at 687-8750.
