Sep. 27, 2006
Copyright � Las Vegas Review-Journal

STATE SUPREME COURT: Incumbent justices lead opponents
But vast number of voters undecided
By SEAN WHALEY
REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU

[[[Click image for enlargement.
Graphic by Mike Johnson.]]]

CARSON CITY -- Two incumbent state Supreme Court justices lead their opponents in their races for re-election, with the contest between incumbent Justice Michael Douglas and Clark County Family Court Judge Cynthia "Dianne" Steel the closer of the two, according to a new poll commissioned by the Review-Journal.

But both the Douglas-Steel match-up and the race between incumbent Supreme Court Justice Nancy Becker and Clark County District Judge Nancy Saitta shows a large number of undecided voters, according to the poll of 625 likely Nevada voters, conducted Tuesday through Thursday, by the Washington, D.C.-based Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

In the Douglas-Steel race, 48 percent of the voters remain undecided. Douglas has 25 percent, Steel 21 percent and "none of these" candidates has 6 percent.

In the Becker-Saitta race, 55 percent of voters remain undecided. But Becker has a much larger margin of support over Saitta, leading 26 percent to 13 percent with 6 percent picking "none of these" candidates.

Mason-Dixon Managing Partner Brad Coker said the large number of undecided voters in judicial races is the norm, and will likely stay that way right up to Election Day. The candidates do not have a lot of name recognition, and many voters will review the election guides the weekend before the election to make a decision, he said.

"Unless you know a judge personally or are before them in court, voters are not aware," Coker said. "We could take the poll the day before the election and still half of the voters would be undecided."

The fact that Becker, who was part of the controversial 2003 ruling on taxes during a legislative stalemate, is ahead of Saitta just shows that most people don't normally remember such controversies, Coker said. Such an issue has to be kept in the public eye for it to have an effect, he said.

Douglas, who also had close poll numbers in his race two years ago, said the number of undecided voters comes as no surprise.

"Unless you have a race that is above the radar screen, where people either really want you or are upset with you, you're not on the map," he said.

This is especially true for members of the state Supreme Court, who don't work in high-profile cases at the District Court level, Douglas said. Even when the court issues a significant ruling, it is usually identified as a "Supreme Court" decision that does not identify justices by name, he said.

"It is up to me to make voters aware," Douglas said.

Douglas authored the recent ballot question decision that kept a portion of the eminent domain measure, Question 2, on the ballot. But he also was part of the unanimous decision taking the government spending control proposal, known as TASC, off the ballot.

Douglas also points out he was not part of the controversial 2003 tax ruling that is an election year issue for Becker.

Steel said she is not running against Douglas, but to bring a jurist with experience in Family Court law to the seven-member court.

"My message is we need at least one of the seven justices with a background in Family and Juvenile Court law," she said. "It's an area of law that has not really been nurtured like it should be."

Steel said she was pleased but somewhat surprised by her strong showing.

"I think it is going to be a close race," she said. "We're doing a huge grass-roots effort."

Becker is the first justice involved in the 2003 tax ruling to run for re-election. The ruling was recently reversed in the decision taking the government spending control measure off the ballot.

Becker said she is running on her record of 20 years of judicial experience and the improvements the state Supreme Court has made to the judicial system to convince voters she deserves another six-year term as justice.

The 2003 decision in Guinn v. Legislature was an interpretation of the state constitution by a majority of the court, she said.

But Becker is the subject of negative ads about the decision, which suggests she is responsible for the $833 million tax increase approved by the Legislature. The ads are paid for by a group called Nevadans Against Judicial Activism.

"Clearly we were not responsible for raising taxes," Becker said. "What we did was interpret the constitution and tell lawmakers to go back to work."

The tax increase was passed by the Legislature in 2003 with a two-thirds majority vote in each house.

"We need to make sure the voters know my true record, my dedication to the community, my service to the community and my legal experience," Becker said. "Anyone can disagree with a decision. But my career has been based on upholding the constitution in all of its parts and in ruling on the law and facts as they apply in a given case, not the views of special interest groups."

Saitta said she is surprised that Becker's level of support is so low, given her years of service as a member of the state Supreme Court.

"She does not have the support of 75 percent of the voters," Saitta said. "On the other side of that, once both candidates are more widely known, voters will realize it's time for a change. Once Becker is identified as being responsible for decisions that denied them their rights, ruling in favor of special interests, I will gain the undecided vote."

Aug. 16, 2006
Copyright � Las Vegas Review-Journal

SUPREME COURT Seats F and G: Incumbents make strong showings
Two will face Clark County district judges in November
By CARRI GEER THEVENOT
REVIEW-JOURNAL

[[[Friends and family join Nevada Supreme Court Justice Nancy Becker, center, at her Las Vegas home Tuesday as she watches election results unfold on television. Becker advanced to the general election, where she will face Clark County District Judge Nancy Saitta in the race for Seat G.
Photo by Ronda Churchill.]]]
[[[Nancy Becker]]]
[[[Michael Douglas]]]

The incumbents in two Nevada Supreme Court races made strong showings Tuesday, and each will face a Clark County judge in November's general election.

Justice Michael Douglas and Justice Nancy Becker were the top vote-getters in their respective races. According to nearly complete results, Douglas received about 35 percent of the vote in the Seat F race, and Becker received about 33 percent in the Seat G race.

Voters chose to pit District Judge Nancy Saitta, 55, against Becker, 51, in the general election. About 25 percent of the voters favored Saitta.

Becker said she has "a broader base of support and a better reputation for integrity" than Saitta.

"I think that my record of service -- even if you disagree with some of the decisions the court has made -- my experience, my integrity over a 20-year period, is what people will appreciate," Becker said.

Saitta said voters now should expect the two candidates "to talk about the issues."

"It's time for a change in that court, and I'm certainly ready to make that change," she said. Saitta said she has more "real-life experience" than Becker.

Becker was elected to the Supreme Court in 1998. She previously spent 10 years as a Clark County district judge.

Saitta, who formerly was the state's children's advocate and senior deputy attorney general, was elected to the District Court bench in 1998.

Also in the Seat G race were Clark County Family Court Judge Nicholas Del Vecchio, who had 13 percent, and Las Vegas attorney Thomas Christensen, who received 12 percent of the vote.

Douglas, 58, will square off against Family Court Judge Cynthia "Dianne" Steel, 53, in November. Steel received 31 percent of the vote to edge out Reno attorney John Calvert, who received 14 percent.

The incumbent said he will strive to make voters understand that he has the most overall experience in the race, having spent years as both a lawyer and a trial judge before joining the high court. Steel could not be reached for comment.

Douglas was appointed in March 2004 to fill the vacancy left by the death of Justice Myron Leavitt. He defeated Las Vegas attorney Joel Hansen later that year for the right to serve out the remaining two years of Leavitt's term.

Steel is making her second bid for the state Supreme Court. She ran in 2004 for the seat vacated by Justice Miriam Shearing. Although Steel survived the primary election, she lost in the general election to Jim Hardesty.

Douglas served as a Clark County district judge from 1996 to 2004. He previously worked for 11 years as a Clark County deputy district attorney. He spent a year in the family support division of the district attorney's office before moving to the civil division.

Steel ran unsuccessfully for a Clark County Family Court seat in 1992, two years after receiving her law degree.

She was elected to the Assembly in 1994 but resigned in February 1996 to become chief of staff for then-Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren.

Later that year, Steel was elected to a new seat in Family Court.

Dear Friend,

No American leader can remain silent on Iraq.

The outcome of what is now a civil war in Iraq cannot be determined by American military force. It has to be solved by Iraqis brought together to hammer out their differences. Period. It is time for Iraqis to stand up for Iraq.

Our soldiers are fighting and dying in the third war in Iraq -- not the war for mythical weapons of mass destruction or the war President Bush said had to be fought against armies of foreign jihadists, but an escalating civil war between Sunni and Shia.

Meanwhile, dissent and debate are being stifled here at home. It's time to act -- and this week, perhaps as early as tomorrow, every U.S. Senator will have that chance.

In the next 24 hours, it is likely that the Senate will vote on my amendment which calls for the withdrawal of American combat troops from Iraq by the end of this year. For months, you and I have been pressing for this step. We've made it clear that we needed to set deadlines in Iraq -- and with the formation of an Iraqi unity government and the killing of Al-Zarqawi, this is a moment of truth in Iraq.

Now a critical vote is at hand. Our brave soldiers have done their work. It's time to put the future of Iraq in the hands of the Iraqi people.

Urge your Senators to support withdrawal of combat troops by the end of 2006

I don't know how many Senators will stand with me on this vote. But, I do know this: pushing the Iraqi government to coordinate with us on withdrawal of U.S. combat troops and pressing for the convening of a Dayton-like summit to reach a comprehensive political agreement for Iraq is the right thing to do. And we can't stop working for that outcome until we make it a reality.

Every Senator that chooses to stand with us will add momentum to our call for an end to the misguided and self-defeating policies of the Bush administration.

Urge your Senators to support withdrawal of combat troops by the end of 2006

Changing America's course in Iraq is one of the toughest political challenges you and I have ever taken on. But, we won't relent until we get the job done -- and we have to make the most of every opportunity to make ourselves heard.

I will be making myself heard on the floor of the United States Senate -- loudly and clearly. You can make our call for a dramatic change in direction even louder and clearer. Please don't hesitate before acting.

Sincerely,

John Kerry

Nancy Becker, Nevada Supreme Court chief justice
Interviewed by Alana Roberts / Staff Writer

[[[Nancy Becker
Photo by R. Marsh Starks]]]

Nevada Supreme Court Chief Justice Nancy Becker is the only remaining female justice on the state's top court. Having followed in the footsteps of former Chief Justice Miriam Shearing, Becker said Nevada's judiciary has changed from one which included few women to one in which women outnumber men -- at least in Clark County. Becker said the state's judiciary has also diversified in terms of ethnic makeup.*1

A graduate of George Washington University Law School, Becker started her career in 1979 as a corporate lawyer in Washington, D.C. She moved back to Nevada in 1983 to work as a prosecutor in the Las Vegas city attorney's office. Since becoming a Nevada Supreme Court justice in 1998, Becker has contributed to reducing the time it takes to decide cases and implementing several case management techniques to ensure the court spends its time on the most critical legal issues.

She said the courts are addressing the need to make legal services more readily available to the state's poor. Two years before joining the judiciary in 1987, Becker founded the Clark County Pro Bono Project. The Pro Bono Project works to connect the county's poor with lawyers in the community who take on their cases for free.

Question: What brought you back to Nevada to practice law?

Answer: I always wanted to come back to Nevada to practice law. I loved this state growing up here. I think it's one of the best states in the union. It's one of the places where you can still make a difference. So when I went to law school it was always my intent to come back to Nevada and I did.

How can you make a difference?

I think anyone, whether you're born here or you've just decided to make Nevada your home, we're still a small enough state where you can become known in the community. You don't have to have money or power or influence to start new organizations, to be elected.

We're one of the few states where on any given day you can see your governor or congress people, your Supreme Court judges and you don't see that in a lot of states.*2

................................

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References

*1. Roberts, Alana. 'A report published by In Business Las Vegas (December 23 - December 29),' "A search of 'Justice Nabcy Becker' on the Google.cn," (May 5, 2006), Mountain view, California: Google.cn.
*2 Ibid.

Justice Nancy A. Becker is currently serving as Vice Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court. Becker has been a member of the judiciary since 1987, serving two years as a limited jurisdiction municipal judge and ten years as a general jurisdiction trial judge before being elected to the Supreme Court in 1998.*1

A graduate of George Washington University National Law Center, Becker began her legal career in 1979 as a corporate and business attorney with a small firm in Washington, D.C. She was also employed as a consultant by the District of Columbia Office on Aging to draft legislation on regulation of long-term nursing facilities and the rights of senior disabled citizens. Becker returned to her native Nevada in 1983 as a prosecutor with the Las Vegas City Attorney�s Office.

In 1985, Becker founded the Clark County Pro Bono Project to assist economically disadvantaged individuals in gaining access the justice system. She served as the Project�s president for ten years. During her presidency, the Project helped thousands of individuals obtain millions of free legal services from local attorney volunteers. Over 70% of the clients were women and children victims of domestic abuse. In 1987 Becker developed a system for identifying and treating mentally ill misdemeanor offenders resulting in a significant drop in recidivism amongst the City�s mentally ill homeless populations. As a general trial judge, Becker championed new case management practices and construction of new courthouses, juvenile and child services facilities.

Her performance as a member of the judiciary and her dedication to the community have earned her numerous awards, including National Top Ten Women of the Year from the American Businesswomen�s Association and the Liberty Bell Award from the American Bar Association.*2

Nancy Becker is now the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nevada. On May 2, 2000, Nancy Becker was named Fellow of Public Administration Institution (PAI) of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI) by President Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei of WBTI.*3

---------------------------------------------
References

*1. The Supreme Court of Nevada. 'A profile of Nancy Becker,' "A search of 'Chief Justice Nancy Becker' on the Google.com," (April 22, 2006), Mountain View, California: Google.com.
*2. Ibid.
*3. Chang, Tiffany. 'A theme of the event and dinner party to pay a special tribute to
the Supreme Court Justice Nancy Becker: Growing Value of the Fellowship of Public Administration Institution,' "Nevada Examiner" (May 2001), Las Vegas, Nevada: Nevada Examiner.

Google.cn and Google.com published this section (Nancy Becker, Chief Justice of Nevada Supreme Court) at 11:18 a.m. in the morning on March 23, 2006. It covers about the 25 fliers from January 7, 2006 to March 21, 2006.

Just type your name, the title of a report or an article, your concerned, the name of an organization, an event, or a reporter;{like "Chairperson Elaine Chao", "�⏬��", "�L��䗗���", and among others) on the searching box of Google.cn and Google.com please, and what can you find the good things that Google and WBTI have for you?*2

Many people have a good perspective on Google. Google.cn and Google.com will put more effort and wisdom to contribute to English and Chinese readers being an efficient visitor on the searching of fluent and useful information. Washington Business and Technology Institute's (WBTI's) website has been continuously published by Google.com and Google.cn about every 11 days. We wish advanced performance may be extended from Google.cn to WBTI.*3

You're on Google.cn and Google.com, if you're on Washington Business and Technology Institute's website at http://communitylink.reviewjournal.com/lvrj/wbti

[[[A compliment or encouragement is verbal sunshine! We are pleased to quote the following three short but meaningful ones:
***** No matter how busy you are, you must take time to make other person feel important. ---Mary Kay Ash
***** There is no more noble occupation in the world than to assit another human being---to help someone succeed. ---Alan Loy McGinnis
***** There are two things people want more than sex and money ...recognition and praise. ---Mary Kay Ash
All art, permanent or temporary, has a life in the immediate experience, but then has a life in the imagination. ---Anish Kapoor 1954- :in "Sunday Times" 11 July 1999
"Accomplishment will prove to be a journey, not a destination." ---Dwight D. Eisenhower]]]

[[[Dear Dr. & Mrs. Lei:
I am writing this letter to invite you to my next Senior Advisory Committee meeting at 9:30 am on Thursday, February 23, 2006, at the Lieburn Senior Center, 6230 Garwood Avenue (map is enclosed). ..... Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei has been U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley's Senior Advisor since January 2000.]]]*4

[[["It's really my pleasure and honor to be named as an Associate Professor of the Graduate School of Business and Public Administration of WBTI. WBTI has a good reputation with its Advisory Board and faculty members. The Board has Governor Kenny Guinn as its Chairman; U. S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign as Vice Chairmen; U. S. Representatives James Gibbons and Shelley Berkley, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman as Executive Directors. With the excellent and informative publications of 'Google.cn', 'Google.com', 'Communitylink of Reviewjournal.com', 'Next Weekly' and among others, high-ranking officials of Nevada with the spiritual leadership of Chairperson Elaine Chao of WBTI have been inspired to help realize the creed for professional righteousness, community service, and humane spirit of WBTI," expressed Justice Michael Douglas of Nevada Supreme Court at the Event and Dinner Party in the Emperor's Garden Restaurant on February 4, 2005 in Las Vegas. It was held by the Committee to implement the ART EXHIBIT of Mr. QIN QUAN XIONG.]]]*5

[[[Some of the significant idea from the letters to Dr. Tony Lei, President of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI):
"It's my great pleasure and honor to be named by you as a Senior Advisor and Honorary Chairman of CCDAPCC of WBTI. Please know that I irrevocably stand by my personal commitment to diversity issues in this state and that my sense of patriotism and faith in America stems from its embrace of that diversity." --A. William Maupin, Chief Justice of Nevada Supreme Court
"As Mayor, I will continue to devote my energies into the preservation and improvement of the standard of living enjoyed here in the City of Las Vegas." --Oscar B. Goodman
"It is only with the dedication and commitment of good people like yourself that I will achieve my goal of becoming Governor of this great state. Dema and I can't thank you enough for your assistance and your positive activivities in the community." --Kenny C. Guinn]]]*6

[[["As the Hononary Chairperson of International Cities Business Council of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI), I'll have more venues to work for international tourism with Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn who is the Chairman of the Advisory Board of WBTI. We're putting all our effort and wisdom to work for our people, land, and country under the spiritual leadership of Chairperson Elaine Chao of WBTI," said Lorraine Hunt, Lt. Governor of Nevada, on November 11, 2005.
The above message was signed by Lt. Governor of Nevada Lorraine Hunt:.....]]]*7

[[["It's my great pleasure to extend my warm greetings of 'Happy Lunar New Year!' to every American and Chinese here in Las Vegas and North America through the Communitylink (at http://communitylink.reviewjournal.com/lvrj/wbti) of the largest newspaper in Nevada, Las Vegas Review-Journal," said James Gibbons, U. S. Congressman and Senior Director of Washington Business and Technology Institute, in the Event and Dinner Party held by Nevada Republican Party and ARCC on January 29, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event and dinner party were sponsored by Asian Republicans of Clark County for a reunion of the lunar new year to the Chinese, Asian, and American people in Las Vegas:.....]]]*8

---------------------------------------------
References

*1. Michael Douglas is a distinguished Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court. Valerie Weber is a famous and achieved Assemblywoman of Nevada and the Minority
Whip of the Assembly. Cheryl Moss is an outstanding District Court Judge of Nevada serving in Las Vegas, Clark County.
*2. PAI of WBTI. 'U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao's on Google!' "A search of 'U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao' on the Google.com," Mountain View, California: Google.com.
*3. Ibid.
*4. Berkley, Shelley. 'I am writing this letter to invite you to,' "A letter from U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley to Dr. and Mrs. Tony Tung-tien Lei," (February 8, 2006), Las Vegas, Nevada: Congresswoman Shelley Berkley's Office.
*5. Denton, Mark; Vega, Valorie; and Chang, Tiffany. 'Michael Douglas has been appointed Associate Professor of GSBPA by WBTI,' "A search of 'Justice Michael Douglas wbti' on the Google.com," (March 25, 2006), Mountain View, California: Google.com.
*6. Guinn, Kenny C. 'Nevada Proud of Our Troops in the Middle East,' "Section of 'Business & Administration' of the WBTI website," (March 23, 2006), Las Vegas, Nevada: WBTI.
*7. Hunt, Lorraine. 'As the Hononary Chairperson of International Cities Business Council,' "A search of 'Chairperson Lorraine Hunt' on the Google.com," (March 26, 2006), Mountain View, California: Google.com.
*8. Gibbons, James. 'It's my great pleasure to extend my warm greetings of,' "A search of 'James Gibbons, U. S. Congressman' on the Google.com," (March 27, 2006), Mountain View, California: Google.com.

Mar. 17, 2006
Copyright � Las Vegas Review-Journal

Supreme Court rules board has authority to subpoena police officers
By ED VOGEL
REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- A divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the Metropolitan Police Citizen Review Board has the authority to subpoena officers to answer questions on whether they have violated department policies.

Justices ruled Officer Steve Leyba should not have ignored a subpoena from the review board asking him to explain why he had arrested Laughlin resident Jarrod Lopez and searched his home in 2003 without a warrant. Lopez filed a complaint with the review board over the incident.

Leyba ignored the subpoena on the grounds the review board did not have the authority to investigate complaints alleging criminal violations by police.

In the majority opinion, Justice Michael Douglas wrote the review board only sought to investigate whether Leyba violated internal police department policies, not allegations of criminal conduct. He noted the review board has authority over "citizen matters involving allegations of improper, but non-criminal conduct" by police.

Andrea Beckman, executive director of the review board, said the decision clarifies emphatically that the law requires police officers to respond to the board's subpoenas.

"We are thrilled. We knew all along our jurisdiction covered only policy violations."

Sometimes policy violations are intertwined with potential criminal violations, she said. But unless there is a criminal investigation against a police officer, the court's decision means that officer must respond to review board subpoenas, Beckman said.

In a separate opinion supporting key elements of Douglas' opinion, Chief Justice Bob Rose outlined the history of the legislation that led to the establishment of the review board in 1997. "Those testifying before the Legislature stated that the citizen review board would be able to review police misconduct even if the conduct may constitute a crime as long as no criminal charges were pending," Rose stated.

Until criminal charges are filed, the review board can proceed in its investigation, Rose said. The Legislature "would not grant broad authority to the citizen review board on one hand and then completely hobble that authority on the other," he said.

However, in a dissenting opinion, Justices Mark Gibbons and Jim Hardesty argued that's precisely was what the Legislature did. They said lawmakers crafted "an overly restrictive jurisdiction for the review board," prohibiting it from investigating any complaint in which "it is alleged that a crime has been committed" by police.

David Kallas, executive director of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, said he was disappointed, but that police will live with the opinion.

"It seems some of our most experienced judiciary are confused by this whole issue," he said. "We as an association will never be able to understand how anybody can compel an individual to testify against himself. That is what this is all about."

American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Allen Lichtenstein praised the decision.

He said if Leyba had prevailed, then the review board would be left investigating only "inconsequential things."

Leyba can be forced before the review board, Lichtenstein said, but the officer still has the constitutional right not to testify about anything that could incriminate him.

In response, Kallas said no police officer would have any integrity or trust left "if he pleads the Fifth."

A theme of the event and dinner party to pay a special tribute to the Supreme Court Justice Nancy Becker
---Growing Value of the Fellowship of Public Administration Institution of WBTI
(Nancy Becker is now the Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court)
By Tiffany Chang

Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI) was founded in January 8, 1996. We have produced distinguished scholars, successful entrepreneurs, and outstanding community leaders. For the time being, our vision of 2004 is to continue to put more wisdom and effort in encourageing those people who are outstanding in public administration, academic research, and community service. WBTI has established the Public Administration Institution (PAI) in order to meet the increasng investigation requirements of current public managers and special research needs of professional public administrators. It seeks to provide an awareness and understanding of the complex administrative and oganizational contexts within which the administrators of public service make and implement decisions; and to provide general technical competence in using the tools of public administration and information management.*1

Dr. William N. Thompson was appointed by WBTI as Fellow and Director of its Public Administration Institution (PAI) on January 18, 2000. "It has been an honorable gratifying to invite a famous professor of Dr. Bill Thompson's expertise, integrity, and good personal traits with highly international perspective to this Institute," Said President Dr. Tony Lei of WBTI on January 21, 2000. "Throughout Dr. Thompson's distinguished career and publication, he has been earned a good reputation as a conscientious and dedicated professional."

On March 3, 2000, Dr. Roy J. Adamson was appointed Fellow of PAI. "It's our gratifying honor to have Dr. Adamson, a famous Emeritus Professor from Pepperdine University to join us as one of our faculty member. The fellowship of Dr. Adamson with both of his expertise and integrity has brought PAI the milestone to an interstate research institution in the United States," said Dr. Tony Lei.

Nancy A. Becker was appointed by WBTI as Fellow of PAI on May 2, 2000. Nancy received her Juris Doctorate degree from George Washington University National Law Center in 1979. She is now a Justice of Nevada Supreme Court. She is the recipient of numerous honors. "It's our honor to invite a famous person of Justice Nancy Becker's excellenct caliber whose expertise, integrity, and good personal traits will bring this Institute wih a perspective of millennium," said Dr. Tony Lei on May 18, 2000. "Throughout her distinguished career, she has accomplished a great deal of judicial practices together with social services and has earned a good reputation of conscientious and dedicated professionalism."

As a born-again Christian, people had been inspired by U. S. Senator-elect John Ensign's sincerity, humanility, and credibility more than just his wealth and good looks in last November. In view of his admirable qualities, achievements, passion, and unshakable belief in building a better Nevada, WBTI led by Dr. Tony Lei, a fellow sincere believer, honored him as Advisor and Vice Chairman of its Advisory Board on November 8, 2000.

"It's a very prestigious honor to be appointed by WBTI as an Associate Fellow of PAI. WBTI is a very well respected and integral part of this community. I'm grateful to be joining such a distinguished panel of professionals who are committed to improving the lives of our citizens in this community. We've our Director and Fellow Dr. William Thompson; Fellows Nancy Becker, Dina Titus, Dr. Roy Adamson, Dr. Archie Chang, Mark Denton, Valorie Vega, Nancy Saitta, Terry Care; Associate Fellows Jessie Walsh, Jackies Glass, Michelle Leavitt-Ftzpatrick, Jennifer Togliatti, Lynette McDonald, Lisa Brown, Cheryl Moss, Cedric Kerns, Betsy Kolkoski, Ann Zimmerman, Natalie Tyrrell, Sheri Vogel; Assistant Fellows Christine Hu, Linda Shyr; Research Associate Sonya Douglas; Assistant Iris Zhang," said Judge Ann Zimmerman.

By the act of love itself, we are enriched. Love in action is service above self. Make service a part of our character and experience the abundant reward that comes from serving others. The Bible teaches: "... let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth ( 1 John 3:18)." District ( Family ) Court Judge Cheryl Moss wrote Dr. Tony Lei : "I am delighted and honored to be appointed as an Associate Fellow of the Public Administration Institution of Washington Business and Technology Institute. Thank you for this opportunity for me to serve, and I hope to gain more knowledge, insight, and awareness about public service and community issues through your prestigious institution. I remain dedicated to helping the community, and I am inspired by your leadership, wisdom, and guaidance. I am also fortunate to have met you and your wife, Judy, because you are both active and dynamic individuals in the community. Your accomplishment and achievement have demonstrated that taking part in the community does make a difference. Best wishes and thank you again for your unselfish kindness, support, and encouragement."

"Even with the constancy of his presidential responsblities, Tony ( Dr. Tony Lei ) carved out time and energy during the past three years with wisdom and knowledge through the cooperation of Dr. William Thompson to create the blueprint for the Institution that ultimately paved the way for the 2000 openning of our Public Administration Institution (PAI) of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI)," said Justice of the Supreme Court Nancy Becker for "Nevada Examiner " on June 30, 2000.

"Public Administraton Institution of WBTI has played the role as a private NPO (Non Pofit Organization) to promote the study and research of public administration and strategy for social and public benefit. With the effort of the Faculty and under the brilliant leadership of Dr. Tony Lei, WBTI has accomplished a valuable contribution to the academic research and community service for Nevada. We share a great deal of honor also as what the Justice of the Supreme Court Nancy Becker does for her prestige as a PAI Fellow. Her participation in this Institution will enrich and enhance its academic production featured with practicality and adaptability as an efficient 'intelligent Tank' through her excellent and fruitful public administration experience and contribution," said the President of Seniors United Lillian Wallace on "Nevada Examiner" in May 9, 2000.

"Thank you very much for showing your faith in me as evidenced by your nomination. It is indeed an honor for me to be nominated by you and to become a Fellow of Public Administration Institution of Washington Business and Technology Institute. This position will undoubtedly provide me with avenues for exploring improvements in public services to which I am most dedicated. I look forward to working together with you in these endeavors," wrote the District Judge Valorie Vega to Dr. Tony Lei from her Office of the Eightth Judicial Distict Court at the Clark County Courthouse on May 22, 2000.

"It is certainly an honor to be acknowledged by you for my commitment to serving this community. I look forward to expanding my public service by working with you and the Institute to continue to better our community. You dedication is a wonderful example of what others should strive to accomplish," wrote Judge Natalie Tyrrell to Dr. Tony Lei.

"WBTI has built a sound foundation with its excellent and achieved faculty members. We've been encouraged to better our endeavor for we've Dr. Kenny Guinn, Governor of Nevada as our Chairman of the Advisory Board; U. S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign as Vice Chairmen; and U. S. Congress Representatives James Gibbons and Shelley Berkley, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman as Executive Advisors," Judge Natalie Tyrrell said.

With his expertise and integrity as a famous professor of management achieved in writing college text books of management, presenting research papers to renowned international conferences, and leading academic institution by the name of WBTI, Dr. Tony Lei has enjoyed the distinctive mission with philanthropy to realize the good purposes and creeds of an organization through his many years accomplishments of knowledge, talents, and experiences on effective management and educational technology in balance of theoreticality and practicality. As Dr. Tony Lei is one of the person who glorify and thank the Almighty the most, we trust that God will be with those who honor Him.

"Your strength as a leader was apparent during our conversation. It is comforting to know that individuals such as yourself are utilizing their talents in an effort to better our community," stated Las Vegas Councilwoman Lynette McDonald in her letter from her Office in the City of Las Vegas to Dr. Tony Lei.

"Our greatest asset at WBTI is our people__not facades or fountains, not landscapes or lakescapes, but people-- faculty, advisory board members, administration, and a host of friends," said Dr. Tony Lei. "Enriching our reseach and community service process were made possible by these friends who joined and supported this academic institute. WBTI is really a chain of dedicated individuals who joined to research, serve, support and to give. We take great pride of our people, including our outstanding faculty members. They are some of the best in the world. We're sincere servers to improve the quality of life of all the residents and visitors of Nevada.

"Power in politics should have a direction that the power based on knowledge is the power of righteousness. We wish that a pure fountain may prosper and enrich our splendid and golden country through the spirit that knowledge calls, ultimately, for a life of service. In God we trust. Life is for the purpose to serve our lovely community and country," Dr. Tony Lei points out.

"One of my priorities will be 'telling the Pepperdine story' of quality and value to a large audience, reaching a broader demographic, and having a global range," said Dr. Andrew Benton at his Inauguaration as President of Pepperdine Univesity on September 23, 2000. "We need to strengthen Pepperdine's diversiy, its connection to its heritage, its sense of community and community involvement, and its scholarship and culture through faculty involvement in outside research and publishing."

"Chairman Thomas Bost of the Board of Regents believes that this new President is best equipped to lead Pepperdine to the next millennium with academic excellence and Christian values. Dr. William Bannosky, the school's fouth president, assures that the new president would seek the highest standads for academic and spiritual excellence," said Dr. Tony Lei who received his degrees of M.B.A. and Ed. D. (Doctor of Education) in Institutional Management from Pepperdine in 1969 and 1990, respectively.

On May 11, 2001, State Senator Terry Care, Chairman of the Democratic Party in Nevada, wrote Dr. Tony Lei: "I commend your work, the work of WBTI, and I wish to rely my respect for Justice Becker." For a special tribute to the Supreme Court Jusitice Nancy Becker and inducement of the Faculty of PAI of WBTI, a dinner and event party is held at Harbor Palace Seafood Restaurant by WBTI and Asian American Community today, May 23, 2001. Dr. Tony Lei is the first Chairman and sponsor of the event and dinner party.

"I truly appreciate your efforts on my behalf and your commitment to bring 100 people to the event at Cashman field on March 26th. It is only with the dedication and commitment of good people like youself that I will achieve my goal of becoming Governor of this great state. Dema and I can't thank you enough for your assistance and your positive activities in the community," wrote Governor Kenny Guinn to Dr. Tony Lei on March 6, 1998.

On December 5, 1999, the Office of Clark County Board of Commissioners presented the Proclamation to Dr. Tony Lei, which was signed and given by its Chairman and Commissioners: Chairman Bruce Woodbury, and Chairman; Vice-Chair Erin Kenny; Commissioners Yvonne Gates, Mary Kincaid, Lance Malone, Myrna Williams, and Dario Herrera. It states: "Dr. Tony Lei has served our community through a variety of venues. He has given freely of his time, energy, knowledge, and talents, working on projects and events that contribute to the quality of life in Clark County and has dedicated himself to public service to not only the Asian Community but to all citizens. Now, therefore, We, the Board of Clark County Commissioners, on this occasion, December 5, 1999, in celebration and recognition of his special accomplishments, do hereby recognize and honor Dr. Tony T. Lei, Ed. D. and urge all citizens to join us in wishing him a successful and bright future."*2

On October 1, 2002, the Office of Clark County Board of Commissioners presented the Proclamation to Dr. Tony Lei for his advanced contribution and accomplishment to the community, residents, and visitors of Nevada.

"As Director of Public Administration Institution (PAI) of WBTI, it's my privilege to share a leadership role with Dr. Tony Lei and to have the wonderful cooperation of all the faculty since PAI's establishment. Innovative in integrating his experience in institutional management and spiritual value in education, Dr. Tony Lei's wisdom and efforts towards community service and academic endeador have been very valuable. We expect the forthcoming work performance of Pan Pacific and Asian American Forum founded by this Institute to help improve the quality of life of the people and contribue to he prosperity of this State," said Dr. William Thompson. Bill is former Chairman and now Professor of the Department of Public Administration of UNLV. His son married a beautiful Chinese girl in Mongloria years ago. He plans to write a book for WBTI, which is expected to be published both in English and Chinese.

"Freedom, democracy, and Justice have constituted a legacy that we should keep, not because it is a legacy, but because it is right and justice. It has made the United States of America the freest and most prosperous country in history. It's our responsibility to join the effort together in making Nevada one of the peaceful, happy, and prosperous state of America through the cooperation and development of culture, tourism, business, and education with our foreign countries." said Lorraine Hunt, Lt. Governor of Nevada, for the Thai Performing Arts - Appreciation Day 2003. The Event and Party was held at the Charleston Height Arts Center on September 16, 2003, co-sponsored by WBTI, Arcata Associates, Kids for a Better Society, among others.

The spirit of both the innovation and entreprenuership has also motivated United States to be a leading and prosperous country. With its high-speed capability, Fiber Optics can convey mass quantity of images and voice information. It is because that the broadband technology such as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) has been more and more developed. Moreover, because of the popular building of radio communication networks, wireless techniques may access important information from the web and condense it to be appeared on the small web connecting machines such as a hand-held screen. The open free software LINUX operating system can even connect various stations very easilly. All these advancement in science and technology, should be used to inspire the promotion of the quality of our daily life. In this new era of information and web works, we should add humanity concern into our thinking structures. God created the world. Everything can be decided by Him. As the value of the fellowship of Public Administration Institution of WBTI growing, we the people with intelligence and knowledge in administration, technology, science should enjoy a valuable and joyful life to serve our community and society with our efforts and wisdom.

---------------------------------------------
References

*1. Chang, Tiffany. 'A theme of the event and dinner party to pay a special tribute to
the Supreme Court Justice Nancy Becker: Growing Value of the Fellowship of Public Administration Institution,' "Nevada Examiner" (May 2001), Las Vegas, Nevada: Nevada Examiner.
*2. Ibid.

The following is an e-mail from the President of Paradise Democratic Club of Las Vegas (PDCLV) John Ponticello to President Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI) in the afternoon on January 6, 2005 in Las Vegas:

From: JPontic177@aol.com
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2006 19:27:54 EST
Subject: Paradise Democratic Club's Tribute to Charlie & Helen Waterman
To: Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei, and among others.

The Paradise Democratic Club
of Las Vegas

Cordially invite you to

A $5 Chicken Dinner

DATE: Wed. January 18, 2006

LOCATION Teamsters # 14 Building 1250 Burnham St

TIME: Cocktails at 6:00 pm Dinner at 6:30 pm

DONATION: $5.00 per person

No Host Cocktails

. All Democratic, Office Holders, and Labor Union Leaders or their representatives are welcome to attend and be introduced and Democratic Candidates will be allowed to introduce themselves and say a few words.

It is our pleasure to post the following article:

[[[082304-1237 ***** "Social & Community (LAF6)" of WBTI - Nevada, First Edition

$5 Dinner Party by the Paradise Democratic Club in Las Vegas
By John Ponticello and PAI of WBTI*1

The Paradise Democratic Club of Las Vegas (PDCLV) held a "MEET YOUR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES $5 DINNER" HONORING NEVADA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR ADRIANA MARTINEZ on August 18, 2004, 6:30 PM at its new meeting place, the Teamsters local #14 building, 1250 Burnham St., Las Vegas.*2

President of PDCLV John Ponticello welcomed all the participants whom were full of the Hall. He then introduced important elected officials Dina Titus, Michael Douglas, Mark Denton, Doug Smith, Michael Cherry, Cheryl Moss, Bob Lueck, among others, and important professionals Tom Gallagher, Dr. Tony Lei, Charlie Waterman, Nancy Diaz, among others.

As also a "Meet Your Democratic Candidates" party, the final thing was for the election candidates to introduce themselves which included: Vonne Chowning, Jim Germain, Lori Lipman Brown, Tom Kirkpatrick, Gloria Sturman, Gayle Beck-Nathan, Steven Horsford, Tammy Green, among others.

The highlight of the dinner party was the Achievment Awards to Adrianna Martinez, Nevada Democratic Party Chair, by U. S. Senator Harry Reid, U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, Las Vegas City Mayor Oscar Goodman, and PDCLV through the President of PDCLV John Ponticello.

Adrianna is a native Nevadan, born in Las VegasShe received a Bechelor of Arts degree from Brooks Institute, Santa Barbara, California. Adriana taught photography at the Community College of Southern Nevada.*3

Adrianna acquired the seat as the State Chair of the Democratic Party in May 2003. She is a true Democrat who believes in the ideals ans principal's of the Democratic Party.*4

This is an annual event in Las Vegas, but the participants may include certain people all around Nevada through RSVP. Under the leadership of John, the $5 Dinner party has been a famous activity for already many years.*5

---------------------------------------------
References

*1. John Ponticello is the President of Paradise Democratic Club. PAI of WBTI is the initial of Public Administration Institution of Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI). PAI did a little editing of this article.
*2. Paradise Democratic Club. 'MEET YOUR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES $5 DINNER" HONORING NEVADA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR ADRIANA MARTINEZ,' "An E-mail from President John Ponticello to WBTI," (July 7, 2004), Las Vegas, Nevada: LVPDC.
*3. Ponticello, John. 'Adrianna Martinez -- Chairwoman, Nevada State Democratic Party,' "Brochure of the $5 Chichen Dinner," (August 18, 2004), Las Vegas, Nevada: PDCLV.
*4. Ibid.
*5. Paradise Democratic Club. Ibid.]]]

The sky is beautiful. Under the bright leadership of President John Ponticello, the event and dinner party have been successfully held for many years by the Paradise Democratic Club of Las Vegas (PDCLV). We wish more and more people will attend this significant and famous dinner party with its elegant feature on January 18, 2005 in Las Vegas.

Google.cn and Google.com published this section (Nancy Becker, Chief Justice of Nevada Supreme Court) on December 28, 2005. It covers about the 25 fliers from August 26, 2005 to December 23, 2005.

Just type your name, your concerned, the name of an organization, an event, or a report like "Justice Nancy Becker", "Justice Nancy Becker esq", "Chang, Tiffany. 'A theme of the event and dinner party to pay a special tribute to the Supreme Court Justice Nancy Becker", "A Special Tribute to Nancy Becker, Justice of the Supreme Court", "chairman rory reid", "Dr. Rory Reid, our Adjunct Associate Professor of the Graduate School of Business and Public Administration (GSBPA) of Washington Business and Technology Institute", "The following information have been received from the search of 'associate professor rory reid' on the Google.cn", "asseblywoman valerie weber", "I called Dr. Tony Lei this morning and was inspired that", "Greetings from Assemblywoman Valerie Weber of the Nevada State Assembly to Dr. Tony Lei", "Originally from California, Nevada Assemblywoman Valerie Weber moved to Nevada", "The following information have been received from the search of", "Asseblywoman Valerie Weber" on the Google.cn in the morning on October 13, "justice bill maupin", "The following information have been received from the search of 'justice bill maupin' on the Google.com and Google.cn", "In 1997, Justice Maupin was honored with the Roger D. Foley Professionalism Award and was named in Who's Who in America.", "兩岸春節包機 廈門至台北首航售罄", "兩岸春節包機擴大對象　台生可搭", "����ӛ�����", "���A���^��ϯ", "ī���•�^������", "֥�njW��������� ���ʿ���", etc.); or your name followed by wbti (like "governor kenny guinn wbti", "rory reid wbti", "valerie weber wbti", "Michele Anderson wbti", "馬英九 wbti", "��녵� wbti", "馬培道 wbti", "˾ͽ���� wbti", "����� wbti", and among others)please, and what can you find the good thing that Google and WBTI have for you?

Jan. 05, 2006
Copyright � Las Vegas Review-Journal

NO OPPONENT: Supreme Court justice to run again
Becker praises court's work
By SEAN WHALEY
REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU

[[[Nancy Becker
Supreme Court justice won full six-year term in 2000]]]

CARSON CITY -- Supreme Court Justice Nancy Becker announced Wednesday she will seek re-election to the Nevada Supreme Court. She first joined the high court in 1999.

Becker said she wants to continue her work on victims' rights and protections, as well as her efforts to streamline Nevada's court system to save taxpayer dollars.

"We've made great strides since I joined the court," she said. "We're one of the busiest supreme courts in the nation, yet two-thirds of our cases are decided within one year of submission."

Becker was first elected to the state's high court in 1998, winning a full six-year term in 2000.

She will be the first sitting justice to run for re-election since a controversial opinion issued during a 2003 legislative impasse over taxes that temporarily suspended a two-thirds vote requirement to raise taxes. Becker supported the 6-1 ruling, which was criticized by anti-tax advocates.

Becker said she is prepared to discuss the issue as far as judicial rules allow, but did not know how much of a campaign issue it might become.

"I think any high profile decision that the court makes can always be turned into a campaign issue," she said. "We did not go out seeking any particular controversy. The governor filed a suit involving five different constitutional provisions. We looked at how those constitutional provisions were to be interpreted, which is our job."

The Legislature ultimately passed a tax increase by a two-thirds margin in each house.

So far, Becker has no announced opponent, but she said she has to budget as if there will be a challenger. She estimates the cost of a campaign with a strong challenger at $800,000.

During her term, Becker said she has helped implement several new procedures to reduce the number of backlogged cases by 40 percent since 1998. The Nevada Supreme Court is also one of the most efficient courts nationwide in the processing of death penalty cases, and the court consistently places a high priority on cases involving children.

"We take the people's right to a speedy trial very seriously, and have taken numerous steps to ensure we are as efficient as possible," Becker said. "In the process, however, we've never forgotten the rights of victims and the importance of making sure the system looks out for them."

As a district judge in Clark County, Becker was involved in developing programs to help victims of domestic violence. She was responsible for initiating a domestic violence advocacy program in the Family Court Division.

Becker said she was also instrumental in efforts to promote long-term planning in the justice community, including construction of jails and juvenile facilities to combat the increase in violent crime and gang-related problems associated with the phenomenal growth of Clark County. In addition, she said she was a key figure in the building of new facilities for the care of abused and neglected children.

Becker received her juris doctorate from George Washington National Law Center in Washington, D.C. in 1979. After a stint practicing with a firm in Washington, she returned to Las Vegas in 1982 and took a position with the Las Vegas City Attorney's Office.

Her experience as a deputy city attorney caused Becker to decide to run for judge. In 1987, she became the first woman elected to the Municipal Court bench.

Gov. Bob Miller selected her to fill a vacancy on the district court bench in 1989, the first woman ever to receive such an appointment. She was re-elected to the district court twice before being elected to the Supreme Court.

Thursday, March 03, 2005
Copyright � Las Vegas Review-Journal

Chief justice seeks help on caseloads
Legislature asked to fund more judges
By BRENDAN RILEY
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[[[Nevada Supreme Court Chief Justice Nancy Becker, front left, speaks to members of the state Supreme Court and state lawmakers Wednesday at the Legislature in Carson City.
Photo by CATHLEEN ALLISON/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS]]]

CARSON CITY -- Chief Justice Nancy Becker had some humorous asides in her State of the Judiciary speech to the Nevada Legislature on Wednesday but her bottom-line message was serious: Nevada judges need lawmakers' help in keeping up with ever-increasing caseloads.

Over the last four years, court caseloads in the Reno and Las Vegas areas have grown by more than 40 percent, Becker said, adding that cases are getting more complex and require more hours of a judge's time. .....

.............................................

---------------------------------------------
Reference

*1. Chang, Tiffany. 'A theme of the event and dinner party to pay a special tribute to the Supreme Court Justice Nancy Becker
---Growing Value of the Fellowship of Public Administration Institution of WBTI
(Nancy Becker is now the Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court),' "A search of 'chief justice nancy becker' on the Google.com," (November 29, 2005), Mountain View, California: Google.com.

---------------------------------------------
Reference

*1. Chang, Tiffany. 'A theme of the event and dinner party to pay a special tribute to the Supreme Court Justice Nancy Becker
---Growing Value of the Fellowship of Public Administration Institution of WBTI,' "A search of 'Chief Justice Nancy Becker' on the Google.com," (October 21, 2005), Mountain View, California: Google.com.

---------------------------------------------
Reference

*1. The Supreme Court of Nevada. 'A Press Release,' "A search of 'Justice Nancy Becker' on Google.com," (April 16, 2005), Mountain View, California: Google.com.