None of the three Nevada Supreme Court Justices seeking re-election this year drew challengers, allowing the state’s only appellate court to operate without the distractions inherent in having justices involved in contested statewide races.

No opponents challenged the bids for re-election to second six-year terms on the high court bench for the three members of the Court whose terms are expiring.

The three are Chief Justice Nancy Saitta and Justices Michael Cherry and Michael Douglas.  They will be formally re-elected in the November 6 General Election.

“With none of us having challengers, we can spend our time fulfilling our obligations to the people of the State of Nevada,” said Chief Justice Nancy Saitta.  “The Nevada Supreme Court has become one of the busiest appellate courts in the nation.  Contested judicial elections are an integral part of Nevada’s judicial system, but they do require considerable effort and time away from the courthouse.”

"I am honored that we have been given a chance to finish the work we started," she said. "My sense is this is a solid court, and the public wants us to finish our work."

Nevada is one of just 11 states with no appellate court.  The Nevada Supreme Court must accept and rule on all appeals.  The seven justices also oversee Nevada’s legal system and issue rules governing everything from court procedures to the ethical and professional conduct of judges and lawyers.

Justice Douglas suggested that “the lack of controversy in recent court decisions and the apparent belief by the public that the court has been efficient and effective may have played a role in attorneys deciding not to challenge incumbent justices.”

He added that raising campaign funds in a struggling economy during a presidential election year would have been difficult.

Justice Cherry, who said he is thrilled that no challengers surfaced, noted that the “sometimes overwhelming workload, with something always coming up, may have dissuaded some lawyers from running.”

“This is a tough job,” said Justice Cherry, who becomes Chief Justice on May 7. “A second 6-year term will allow me to continue my work on the Indigent Defense Commission and the Senior Judge Program.”

The names of the three justices will appear on the November ballot but voters will have the option of voting for “None of these candidates,” although “None” cannot win.