Linda M. Bell
2023 - Present
2028
1
Linda M. Bell is a judge for Seat A of the Nevada Supreme Court. She assumed office on January 2, 2023. Her current term ends on December 31, 2028.
Bell ran for election for the Seat A judge of the Nevada Supreme Court. She won in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Biography
Linda M. Bell graduated from Bonanza High School in 1986. Bell earned a B.A. in psychology from the University of Nevada at Reno in 1990 and a J.D. from the University of San Diego in 1993. Her career experience includes working as an assistant federal public defender with the Law Offices of the Federal Public Defender and a deputy public defender with the Clark County Public Defender's Office.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: Nevada Supreme Court elections, 2022
General election
General election for Nevada Supreme Court Seat A
Linda M. Bell won election in the general election for Nevada Supreme Court Seat A on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Linda M. Bell (Nonpartisan) | 75.9 | 666,535 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 24.1 | 211,792 | ||
| Total votes: 878,327 | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Linda M. Bell advanced from the primary for Nevada Supreme Court Seat A.
2020
See also: Municipal elections in Clark County, Nevada (2020)
General election
General election for Nevada 8th Judicial District Court Department 7
Incumbent Linda M. Bell won election in the general election for Nevada 8th Judicial District Court Department 7 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Linda M. Bell (Nonpartisan) | 100.0 | 667,675 | |
| Total votes: 667,675 | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Linda M. Bell advanced from the primary for Nevada 8th Judicial District Court Department 7.
2014
See also: Nevada judicial elections, 2014
Bell ran for re-election to the Eighth Judicial District Court (Dept. 7).
Primary: She was elected without opposition in the primary on June 10, 2014.
[2][3]
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Linda M. Bell did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Linda M. Bell did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Education
Bell received an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law.[1]
Career
Prior to joining the court, Bell was a public defender for twelve years: five years with the Clark County Public Defender's Office and seven with the Federal Public Defender's Office. She also worked in private practice and clerked for Judge Sally Loehrer in the Eighth District Court.[1]
Noteworthy cases
Simpson's trial and conviction stand
In November 2013, Bell denied former football star O.J. Simpson's bid for a new trial following a conviction for kidnapping and armed robbery in 2008. Simpson's lawyer claimed that his original attorney was ineffective counsel, which violated Simpson's constitutional rights. In denying the bid, Bell said:
| “ | All grounds in the petition lack merit, and consequently, are denied.[4][5] | ” |
2013 judicial performance evaluation
In 2013, the Las Vegas Review-Journal sponsored a survey of 902 lawyers who rated Nevada Supreme Court justices and judges located in Clark County. 81 percent of respondents voted in favor of keeping Bell on the bench. The average vote in favor of retention for all 88 judges evaluated was 71 percent.[6]
State supreme court judicial selection in Nevada
- See also: Judicial selection in Nevada
The seven justices of the Nevada Supreme Court are elected to six-year terms in nonpartisan elections. When their terms expire, justices must run for re-election if they wish to remain on the court.[7]
Qualifications
To serve on the Nevada Supreme Court, a person must:
- be at least 25 years old;
- be licensed and admitted to practice law in Nevada, and have been licensed and admitted to practice law in the United States for at least 15 years, including at least two years in Nevada;
- be a qualified elector; and
- have been a state resident for at least two years preceding the election[8]
Chief justice
The chief justice of the supreme court is chosen according to seniority. According to state law, if there are two or more eligible justices, the chief justice is determined by lot.[9] Alternatively, the internal operating procedures of the supreme court allow the possibility of an agreement between eligible justices.[10] According to the Administrative Office of the Courts in Nevada, often the eligible members of the court will agree to a lesser term as chief justice if there are multiple eligible justices in the last two years of their terms who want to serve in that capacity. Such agreements have been memorialized by a court order or other official document filed with the clerk.[11]
Vacancies
In the event of a midterm vacancy, the Nevada Commission on Judicial Selection solicits and screens applicants. The commission presents a list of three nominees to the governor, who appoints one to fill the vacancy until the next general election. If the predecessor's term is not expiring that election cycle, the appointed justice must win the election to the court to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.[12]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 LinkedIn, "Linda Bell," accessed December 5, 2022
- ↑ Clark County Nevada, "Election: Candidate Filing in Clark County"," accessed February 13, 2014 Select "Election Year: 2014"
- ↑ Silver State Election Night Results, "2014 Primary Election Results - Judicial," accessed June 11, 2014
- ↑ CBSNews.com, "Judge denies O.J. Simpson's bid for a new trial," November 26, 2013
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Las Vegas Review Journal, "2013 Judicial Performance Evaluation," accessed September 23, 2014
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Nevada | Selection of Judges," accessed August 20, 2021
- ↑ Nevada Legislature, " NRS 2.020 Qualifications," accessed August 20, 2021
- ↑ Nevada Legislature, "NRS 2.030 Election; Chief Justice," accessed August 20, 2021
- ↑ Nevada Judiciary, "Nevada Supreme Court: Internal Operating Procedures," May 20, 2021
- ↑ This information was provided to Ballotpedia in an email from the Administrative Office of the Courts in Nevada.
- ↑ Administrative Office of the Courts, "FACTS and FAQs," accessed August 20, 2021
Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Nevada • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Nevada
State courts:
Nevada Supreme Court • Nevada Court of Appeals • Nevada District Courts • Nevada Justice Courts • Nevada Municipal Courts • Clark County Family Court, Nevada
State resources:
Courts in Nevada • Nevada judicial elections • Judicial selection in Nevada