Judge Stockard files for reelection

by Rachel Dahl —  Judge Tom Stockard filed for reelection to the Tenth Judicial District Court seat on Monday, January 6th, when filing for judicial seats opened. In July he will complete eight years of service, completing the last two years of the term vacated by Judge David Huff when he passed away in 2012. Judicial terms run for six years and are not term limited. Stockard says it’s the ability to make a difference in our community that has meant the most to him. “Whether it’s in the foster care system where we’re getting kids back with their parents or getting them adopted, or the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) program and the family law — we’ve started the mediation program where we help people get into a less conflict situation where they can resolve differences without going to court, of course we are always here to go to court if we need to.” In criminal cases Stockard said, “we continue to provide justice both to the community and the defendants.” The Tenth district is also a participant in the Western Regional Drug Court, working to expand the specialty programs they oversee including a family drug court. Judges from around the state see this program as successful because of the collaboration and cooperation between parole and probation, the treatment providers, and court personnel. Stockard says he tries to treat each case, “like it’s the most important case because to that person it is. Or for those people. I think you have to make sure that you don’t ever treat any case as insignificant, every case is important.” The Tenth Judicial District is made up of all of Churchill County and was split off from the Third Judicial District in 2011, which is now only Lyon County. The biggest challenge in the Tenth district is the volume of the cases. “We are probably on a case-per-judge basis the second busiest court in the state,” said Stockard. Last year alone, the Tenth district saw a total of 1,675 cases and disposed of 1,642 for a 98% disposal rate. “In the last legislative session Elko got a third judge but in Churchill County there is just one judge.” That court disposed of 1,989 cases between their three judges. Additionally, Stockard has had the opportunity to work with several local students who returned to Fallon from law school to serve as clerks in the court. “Kenny Tedford clerked for me and now he’s at the Washoe County District Attorney’s office and every report I have is that he is doing an excellent job,” said Stockard. “The other clerk I’m quite proud of is Carey Rosser who is now working at the Douglas County District Attorney’s office in the civil division.” Stockard said “Every year I hire a clerk who serves as the bailiff but they also help with legal research and generally someone who is fairly new out of law school.” Stockard attended Brigham Young University law school where he served as editor and chief of the BYU Journal of Pubic Law. He studied Spanish as an undergrad at BYU, and served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Uruguay. He was elected president of the Nevada District Judges Association and is serving the 2019-20 term, and is serving as an alternate member on the Commission on Judicial Discipline and Access to Justice Commission. He was previously a member of the State Bar of Nevada Disciplinary Panel. Stockard was the assistant district attorney for Churchill County from 1999 to 2012. Filing for judicial seats ends this Friday, January 17th. Filing for the general election seats including county commissioner and school board begins March 2, and runs through March 13, 2020.       Read more local news at www.TheFallonPost.org