Justice of the Peace Ron Kent resigns after serving three years on the bench

Former Pahrump Justice Court Judge Ron Kent has agreed to resign his judicial position by March 31, according to the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline.

The news comes roughly six months after Public Defender Jason Earnest sought to remove Kent from the bench after filing an order of recusal on Sept. 8, 2015.

Earnest said Kent failed to meet his educational requirements as directed by the Nevada Supreme Court.

Documents from the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline filed on March 16 cited a stipulation and consent order for Kent’s resignation.

The document stated that ‘the respondent’ acknowledges that due to health reasons, Kent is not currently taking the bench or hearing cases in his jurisdiction.

Additionally, Kent consented and agreed he will not seek, accept, or serve in any judicial or adjudicative position or capacity in the future in any jurisdiction in the state of Nevada.

Kent also agreed to waive his right to appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court or present his case in contesting the allegations brought forward by the commission.

Efforts to gain comment from Kent were unsuccessful by press time on Tuesday.

Lisa Chamlee and Chris Arabia filed a joinder to defense attorney Jason Earnest’s original order of recusal, seeking Kent’s removal from the bench.

One month after Earnest filed the order of recusal for Kent, public defenders Lisa Chamlee and Chris Arabia filed a joinder seeking Kent’s removal from the bench.

At the time, Chamlee explained her reasoning for filing the joinder.

She noted that the Nevada Supreme Court mandates that all justices of the peace and judges have to complete what’s called the Mandatory Ethics Course at the National Judicial College in Reno.

“When I reviewed Judge Kent’s transcripts, I noticed that he did not complete the course,” she said. “The Nevada Supreme Court says you have 24 months from the date of election or appointment to complete the course. Judge Kent was elected in November of 2012 and he took office in January 2013, so it’s been almost three years since he was elected.”

Laura Bogden, executive director of Nevada’s Board of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) said all attorneys in Nevada, whether it be an attorney, state judge or justice of the peace, have the same CLE requirement, 12 total credits per calendar year.

“The only difference is that state judges and justices of the peace do not have to pay an annual $40 fee,” she said. “There are a few waivers, such as military, federal judges, and hardship exemptions that need to be approved by our board on a case-by-case basis.”

Bogden also said when attorneys, state judges or justices of the peace are non-compliant, they are assessed late fees and/or subject to suspension.

“I am not aware of any state judges or justices of the peace that have been suspended,” she said.

Additionally, late last year, Kent was admitted to the intensive care unit at UCLA Medical Center, following surgery for what is described as a life-threatening abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The aorta is the largest artery in the body, which carries oxygen-rich blood pumped out of the heart.

Aneurysms are a health risk because they can burst or rupture, leading to shock or death.

Kent’s longtime close friend Lori Doller said his surgery lasted longer than doctors expected.

“His surgery really scared me because it was only supposed to last six to eight hours and it went 12 hours,” she said. “The doctor kept using the words life-threatening, which I didn’t like. If that aneurysm had burst, he would have been dead.”

Kent defeated Louis DeCanio in the 2012 general election, succeeding Judge Tina Brisbill, who retired after serving two six-year terms as justice of the peace and 18 years as a court administrator in the Town of Pahrump.

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes