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Profile: New chief judge takes over at critical time

There’s about $10 million in renovations under way at the Regional Justice Center, but not one dime of it will go to purchase a much-needed window shade for new Chief Judge Jennifer Togliatti, who took over for District Judge Art Ritchie Jan. 1.

“It’s like the Vdara death ray,” said Togliatti in an interview last week held in her new 10th floor office. “Art couldn’t wait to get out of here, but he did offer to leave me his hat.”

That’s not the only heat bearing down on the judge. Togliatti takes over at a critical time for the Clark County judiciary, one of the busiest in the nation even with the addition of eight new judges who took office this month.

The $10 million construction project at the downtown courthouse will renovate the third floor into eight courtrooms, but that work isn’t scheduled for completion until spring 2012.

Until then, judges and the lawyers, defendants and litigants who appear before them will play a game of musical chairs. In a letter Togliatti sent to members of the bar in late December, she explained how current court facilities were already at capacity.

For much more on our interview with the new chief judge, log on to Las Vegas Legal News at http://lvlegalnews.com.


Chief District Judge Jennifer Togliatti swears in newly appointed District Judge Jerry Tao in her chambers on Jan. 19. Both are new to the job as Togliatti took from District Judge Art Ritchie the reins to the state’s largest court system on Jan. 1. Tao is the first judicial appointment made by Gov. Brian Sandoval. Tao fills a vacancy in Department 20 created when former District Judge David Wall resigned mid-term to become a partner and litigator at Mainor Eglet. (Craig Moran/Courtesy of the Las Vegas Review-Journal)
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