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Clark County District Court Judge Eighth Judicial District Department 13

District Court Judges preside over major civil and criminal cases, including felony prosecutions, large civil disputes, family law matters, and constitutional challenges. These judges interpret and apply Nevada law, make decisions about sentencing, rule on the admissibility of evidence, and ensure that court proceedings follow due process. Because District Court judges shape how laws are enforced and how individual rights are protected, their decisions directly affect public safety, civil liberties, and access to justice. Although judicial races often receive less attention than other offices, these positions play a critical role in upholding the rule of law, ensuring fairness in the legal system, and maintaining public confidence in an independent judiciary.Note: This is a nonpartisan race. The designation only applies to the race, and does not reflect the political affiliations of the candidates.

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    Adam Ganz
    (NON)

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    Christopher Howell
    (NON)

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    Robert Otto Kurth
    (NON)

Biographical Information

What experience or qualifications best prepare you to serve in this judicial role?

How do you approach interpreting and applying the law when deciding cases?

How would you ensure fairness, impartiality, and public confidence in the courtroom?

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Campaign Email cthowell24@gmail.com
Campaign Phone Number 7026352160
Endorsements VoteVets; PLAN Action Fund; Nevada Veterans Caucus
I’ve spent my career in service, first in the U.S. Army, and now in the courtroom. As a Non-Commissioned Officer, I led soldiers in high-pressure situations where decisions had real consequences. That experience shaped my discipline, judgment, and sense of accountability. For the past decade, I’ve served in the Clark County Public Defender’s Office, representing thousands of Nevadans from arraignment through trial and appeal. As a Chief Deputy Public Defender, I’ve also led attorneys and ensured cases are handled with preparation and integrity. I’ve been in court every day, handling the cases this court sees, and I’m prepared to bring fairness, respect for the law, and sound judgment to the bench.
My experience in the courtroom has taught me the importance of listening closely, evaluating credibility, and making decisions grounded in both the law and the evidence. Every person who comes before the court deserves to be heard and treated with respect. My approach is disciplined, impartial, and focused on ensuring that decisions are clear, consistent, and rooted in the rule of law.
Fairness starts with consistency and respect. Every person who comes before the court will be treated equally, heard fully, and judged based on the facts and the law.
Campaign Email kurthforjudge@gmail.com
Campaign Phone Number 7024385810
Endorsements Western States Regional Council of Carpenters
I have extensive experience practicing criminal, civil, business and probate law for 34 years and have argued cases in the Nevada Supreme Court. I have judicial experience as an Arbitrator for the Eighth Judicial District Court for 25 years where I hear and decide cases and issue written decisions. I served as a Pro Tem Child Support Hearing Master and a Pro Tem Small Claims Court Judge. I was an Adjunct Professor in Legal Studies at the Northwest Career College, and have been in the trenches representing people from all races, backgrounds, ethnicities and income levels. I obtained my J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law (Dec. 1991), have a B.S. in Business Administration from UNLV (1989) and am a BYU alumnus (85-86).
The role of the judiciary is to interpret the law and make decisions after applying the law to the facts of the case; not to legislate from the bench. I will be a Judge, who will LISTEN to your concerns, UNDERSTAND your situation, be TOUGH but FAIR on crime, RESPECT your rights, PROTECT our families, be COURTEOUS, and UPHOLD the Constitution and the laws of the State of Nevada. I will use my Experience, Integrity, Demeanor, Fairness and Common Sense to manage the courtroom and discern the truth. I will be Courteous and Fair in applying justice to all those who come before me, while rendering decisions that are fair and just and give everyone their day in court to make the judicial system more efficient and one that our Founders envisioned.
I care about our community and the place my family calls home. I believe that my greatest strengths are having common sense, being courteous, listening, discerning the truth, being ethical, fair, impartial, and having a good judicial temperament as I understand where the individual and their attorney is/are coming from concerning the evidence and testimony presented when considering their situation. Sometimes one may not agree with the law or the morality of such but must apply the law and make the correct decision in accordance with the law that are fair and just. A judge should also know their biases so that they do not apply their biases against anyone coming before them. Everyone will receive due process and get their day in Court.