Judging the Judges: Retiring Dahl set high standard for North Las Vegas court

North Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Stephen Dahl doesn't have far to look for a quick pick-me-up during those occasional bad days on the bench.

All it takes is a glance toward the back of his courtroom, where a framed drawing hangs. Done by a past winner in the annual art contest Dahl hosts for area schoolchildren, it's of a man with a thought bubble above his head.

Within the bubble, the young artist scrawled these words: I'm the best judge in the world.

"That's my ego picture," Dahl said with a chuckle.

While he may not in fact be the best judge in the world, Dahl, 56, often has been the top-rated justice of the peace by Clark County attorneys in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Judicial Performance Evaluations. In the 2011 survey, 90 percent of 87 respondents said Dahl should be retained, and he earned high marks for his courtesy and fairness. In 2010, Dahl's retention score was 86 percent.

"Smartest judge in the county," one attorney wrote in the latest survey. "A truly good person."

Dahl earned the highest scores among the three North Las Vegas Justice Court judges, who serve six-year terms and handle arraignments, preliminary hearings, evictions, small claims and other matters.

"I guess I've done all right," he said.

But Dahl will not be retained, because after 17 years on the bench, he has decided not to seek re-election when his term ends this year . Budget cuts and decreased resources at the District Court level have lately left him feeling "like a cog in a broken wheel," he said. Also, he's ready for new challenges and wants to get back "down in the trenches" before retiring.

"I just don't believe in riding it out," he said.

Dahl hopes to work for a local nonprofit that provides free legal services to those in need.

Besides, "it never hurts to get fresh blood and people" in the judiciary, he said. "It's not necessarily meant to be a lifelong career, or a life sentence."

A half-dozen or so attorneys have expressed interest in running for the seat, Dahl said. He declined to name names, but whoever replaces him will have big shoes to fill.

One attorney wrote that Dahl is "hands down, the best judge sitting on the bench in all of Clark County."

His fellow judges at North Las Vegas Justice Court said they'll miss Dahl's experience and intelligence.

"We're losing a tremendous asset on the bench," said Justice of the Peace Chris Lee. "He's kind of the old oracle."

Scores for the other North Las Vegas Justice Court judges also improved in the latest survey:

CHRIS LEE

In 2010, 72 percent of attorneys surveyed said Lee should be retained. In the latest survey, the 85 attorneys who rated him increased that number slightly, to 78 percent.

Lee, first elected in 2008, said he was happy with the results: "I'm closing in on my third year on the bench, and I'm pleased to see I'm improving, at least in the eyes of those who complete the survey."

Lee's highest scores were for courtesy and punctuality.

But more than a third of the respondents rated him less than adequate on appropriateness of rulings, while 51 percent rated him more than adequate on the same issue. From the lawyer's written comments, the polarized opinions clearly refer to the severity with which Lee treats criminal defendants.

One attorney criticized Lee for "remanding nonviolent offenders for petty reasons."

Wrote another: "Judge Lee will gladly fill up every jail we ever decide to build."

Lee, whose term expires in 2014, said he has no problem being known as a tough judge. While campaigning he promised voters he would be fair, but firm.

"A lot of people who end up in Justice Court never had to face consequences for bad life choices before," he said. "I feel it's a responsibility of mine to hold them responsible for their actions. That's what I feel like the community elected me to do."

NATALIE TYRRELL

Natalie Tyrrell, who is up for re-election for a third term this year , saw her retention rate jump from 63 percent in 2010 to 76 percent in 2011. Sixty-six attorneys evaluated her in the latest survey.

"I'm always striving to do my job better," she said. "Obviously the attorneys (surveyed) felt that I've made improvements."

Tyrrell's highest marks were for courtesy and for being free from bias on the basis of religion, gender and race or ethnic origin. But she felt those scores -- 50 percent or more of attorneys ranked her "more than adequate" -- should have been even higher.

"It should be 90 to 100 percent," she said. "I feel I treat everybody the same. I try to be respectful to everybody in my courtroom."

Comments about her on the survey were mixed, and some contradicted others.

Positive statements included, "a true pleasure to appear in front of," and "great judge with perfect demeanor for the bench."

But one attorney criticized Tyrrell for allowing "criminal defendants to walk all over her," and another said the district attorneys "will get whatever they ask for in her courtroom."

The comments "are always really nice or nasty, never in between," Tyrrell said. "It's usually people who have an ax to grind. I'm always open to constructive criticism. It would be more helpful if everybody who filled it out put constructive remarks."

Contact reporter Lynnette Curtis at lcurtis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0285.