Redistricting panel

You can't knock Carson City District Judge James Todd Russell for his urgency, sense of civic responsibility and good intentions. After all, he's trying to do someone else's job.

But his plan to handle the decennial redrawing of Nevada's congressional and legislative districts is flawed. Try as he might, Judge Russell simply can't take the politics out of an inherently political process.

The Legislature had plenty of opportunity to finish the job. Instead, it quit. Majority Democrats never worked toward a compromise that Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval would sign. The parties' lawyers asked Judge Russell to take over.

On Tuesday, Judge Russell said he would appoint a panel of special masters to do the job -- and he recommended nonpartisan voter registrars and Legislative Counsel Bureau staff for spots on the committee.

But these officials, whose jobs demand that they remain above the partisan fray, would no doubt be subjected to criticism of bias if they fulfilled Judge Russell's wish. Indeed, Clark County officials said their registrar of voters, Larry Lomax, would not be allowed to participate.

Judge Russell gave party lawyers until Wednesday to suggest panel members and document concerns about his plan of action. Asking lawyers for the Democratic and Republican parties to submit names of people who lack "political agendas" -- Judge Russell's requirement -- is like trusting foxes to put vegetarians in charge of guarding the hen house.

The idea of putting a nonpartisan panel in charge of redistricting may have potential -- let's see how it works in California. But a panel created by the courts with input from party lawyers invites unintended consequences.

Judge Russell should order the Legislature back to work. Make lawmakers clean up their own mess.