On Friday, September 27, 2024, Nevada Current reported that Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joe Sciscento is facing scrutiny following a campaign mailer that incorrectly stated he was “Endorsed by the Republican Party.” Sciscento attributed the inclusion of this endorsement to an oversight by his campaign management team or a printer contracted by his campaign. With 15 years on the bench, Sciscento is currently in a competitive race against Clark County Chief Deputy Public Defender Kristal Bradford.

During an interview, Sciscento acknowledged the mishap, stating, “I know that mailer went out, and it was an oversight.” He mentioned that he was unaware of any complaints filed with the Nevada Judicial Discipline Commission by Veterans in Politics regarding the endorsement. He confirmed that the campaign took immediate action to rectify the error, pulling the materials and making necessary changes.

According to Nevada Supreme Court Rule 4.1, judicial candidates are prohibited from seeking or utilizing endorsements from political organizations. This rule aims to maintain the nonpartisan nature of judicial races. A similar situation has arisen in the campaign of Madilyn “Leavitt” Cole, a Clark County prosecutor challenging Justice of the Peace Cynthia Dustin-Cruz, who also faces complaints related to endorsements.

Sciscento noted that both he and Cole utilize the same printer and campaign team. Cecia Alvarado of Latino Outreach Solutions, who manages the campaigns for both candidates, stated she was not aware of the complaints against them and did not respond to requests for comment after being informed about the allegations.

Bradford criticized Sciscento’s explanation, asserting that the endorsement’s presence in the mailer suggests a serious breach of judicial ethics. “You don’t want a judge who’s saying, ‘I’m backed by the Republican Party’ or ‘I’m backed by the Democrat Party,’” she stated. She emphasized the importance of judges adhering to the law, especially during election campaigns.

Highlighting concerns over perceived partisanship, Bradford remarked that community members might feel unfairly treated in court if they know a judge has political backing. “That’s why our races are nonpartisan, because we don’t want to create the appearance of undue influence,” she added.

Bradford expressed skepticism regarding Sciscento’s claim that the endorsement was an oversight, arguing that final copies of campaign materials are typically reviewed prior to printing. She described the endorsement’s visibility, stating, “Red print on a blue background is not an oversight.” Despite the controversy, she noted that Sciscento has not faced any consequences for the incident and has even gained additional endorsements since the mailer was distributed.

The complaints against Sciscento and Cole highlight a broader concern regarding the integrity of the judicial system. The complaints assert that featuring political endorsements in campaign materials undermines the nonpartisan nature of judicial elections, which voters expect to be free from political influence.

Sciscento, who was appointed to Justice Court Dept. 2 in 2009 and has been elected three times since, received 42.6% of the vote in the primary election, while Bradford garnered 31.3%. Sciscento has been a fixture in Las Vegas since 1991 and has a history of working with prominent attorneys and judges in the area. He noted that he has received high ratings from attorney surveys regarding his performance on the bench.

Bradford, who has served as a public defender since 2018, has a background that includes civil law and prosecutorial experience in California. She stated her intention to run against Sciscento stems from their differing perspectives and backgrounds. “I offer a different perspective,” she remarked, emphasizing her commitment to fairness and impartiality in the judicial process.

As of mid-July, Sciscento reported raising $133,000 for his campaign, with $73,000 remaining. Meanwhile, Bradford raised $13,669, having spent nearly all of her funds. She highlighted the challenges faced by underfunded candidates, particularly Black women in political races, and expressed pride in her fundraising achievements.

Both candidates continue to seek support from various organizations, with Sciscento receiving endorsements from multiple law enforcement agencies and unions, while Bradford has the backing of several progressive organizations and unions.

 

 

Source: Nevada Current