Deadline Friday for East Fork justice applicants

Hopefuls for East Fork Township justice of the peace have a few more days to submit applications for consideration by Douglas County commissioners as Friday's deadline nears.

By Tuesday afternoon, 24 names had been submitted for the elected office that pays $103,417.60 a year.

The vacancy was created by the Aug. 6 resignation of Judge Jim EnEarl. Commissioners are to appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of EnEarl's term which is up in December 2012.

If interested in keeping the job, the successful applicant will face re-election.

Applicants who submitted letters of interest this week included:

-- Jennifer Yturbide, 50, Minden, attorney;

-- Jesse W. McKone, 41, Minden, deputy sheriff;

-- Anthony Spotts, 30, Gardnerville, administrative secretary;

-- Edward Jurzenski, 59, Zephyr Cove;

-- Mary E. Hobbs, 44, Indian Hills, legal assistant.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. Friday. Commissioners are set to choose a new judge at the Sept. 2 meeting.

Senior Judge Steven McMorris is presiding over the court until a replacement is selected.

Yturbide, who has 20 years of legal experience, said in her letter of interest, "Justice Court is referred to as the 'People's Court' for a reason. Due to the nature and scope of the caseload, this is the court where the public is most likely to appear and form opinions about the legal system and the administration of justice."

Although state statute does not require a lawyer fill the position, Yturbide asked the board to give "serious consideration" to appointing an attorney.

"Some of the legal issues raised in civil and criminal matters in Justice Court are complex. If an error is made, the case can be appealed to District Court, and if the appeal is successful, a retrial may be ordered," Yturbide said.

She said retrial adds expenses and takes more of the staff's time in both courts and the attorneys.

Yturbide has served as a justice pro tem since 2005.

She has worked at Brooke Shaw Zumpft since 2003 and is a former deputy district attorney and staff attorney for District Judge Michael Gibbons.

McKone said he has been a deputy sheriff for 19 years including 10 years as a court services officer and bailiff.

"During my time as a deputy sheriff, I developed a strong working knowledge of criminal law, civil procedures and courtroom management," he said.

McKone said the judicial process begins with "collecting facts and protecting victims as well as protection of individual rights."

"I am a firm believer in the protection of constitutional rights and the judicial process. I also feel there has been a lack of community service as part of criminal sentencing at the Justice Court level in the past and would seek implementation of these services as an additional tool when imposing sentencing," he said.

Spotts works as an administrative secretary in human resources in the Lyon County School District.

He earned his law degree from Indiana University.

Spotts cited his experience with the state and two summers as an intern in the Washoe County District Attorney's Office with providing additional experience in the application of law.

Spotts said he has been a 13-year volunteer judge in speech and debate tournaments.

"Though on the surface, this seems irrelevant, I see my volunteer work as much as the same type of work as justice of the peace; you have to listen to both sides of the argument, give each an ample opportunity to prove their assertions with evidence and in the end, render a fair and impartial decision regardless of your own personal beliefs or views on the subject," Spotts said.

Jurzenski listed his address as Zephyr Cove despite the requirement that the new justice be an East Fork Township resident for 30 days.

He was unavailable for comment on the residency.

On his application, Jurzenski said he was an organizer and crew leader for the U.S. Department of Commerce and formerly owned Sunflower Produce Co. in Zephyr Cove.

"My background demonstrates that I'm responsible, work well with others, but I also know how to make a relationship with other people of the community and have them feel comfortable with their own opinion. Coming from a disciplined background, yet dealing with people from many thresholds of the community, I've learned about this behavior that best condones peace," he said.

Hobbs has been a legal assistant with National Business Factors for 10 years.

"I understand that as a justice of the peace, you must be able to maintain impartiality, look to the law for guidance and weigh compassion and understanding in each situation, while still applying the laws as they have been set," she said. "You must determine each case based on the act in relation to the laws that have been violated, while leaving interpersonal feelings outside the courtroom."

ON THE WEB

Douglas County Human Resources

www.douglascountyhr.com

WHO'S APPLIED

Mary James, 53, Gardnerville, legal assistant

Kip R. Steele, 59, Gardnerville, investigator, Nevada Real Estate Division

Therese M. Abraham-Noble, 53, Minden, bakery owner, photographer and video producer

Wayne A. Fazzino, 57, Minden, special investigator, Nevada Attorney General's office

Rev. Dr. Jane Foraker-Thompson, 72, Gardnerville, retired Nevada prison chaplain

Thomas E. Perkins, 59, Minden, attorney

Mark Owens, 51, Gardnerville Ranchos, auto-cad draftsman and survey instrument operator

Laura Valentine, 48, Gardnerville Ranchos, business owner, clinical program planner, rural clinics and services, Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services

Erik A. Levin, 51, Minden, Douglas County deputy district attorney

Travis Funk, 40, Minden, contractor

Kelly Chase, 58, Minden, attorney

Brian C. Mehrer, Gardnerville Ranchos, physical education instructor

John Louritt, 64, Gardnerville, casino surveillance department manager, former police detective

Michael Lenzi, 51, Gardnerville, retired correctional officer

Travis J. Phillips, 30, Minden, civil engineer

Tami J. DiSalvo, 45, Gardnerville, supervising deputy probation officer, El Dorado County

Peter D. Quenzer, 70, Genoa, retired property manager, volunteer court bailiff

Nancy L. Downey, 58, Genoa, sociologist, marketing consultant

Robert Priscaro, 52, Gardnerville, El Dorado County deputy district attorney

Jennifer Yturbide, 50, Minden, attorney

Jesse W. McKone, 41, deputy sheriff

Anthony Spotts, 30, Gardnerville, administrative secretary

Edward Jurzenski, Zephyr Cove

Mary E. Hobbs, 44, Indian Hills, legal assistant