RedMass2009Gallery

Diocese of las vegas Red mass

Recipient of Gift

The Honorable James C. Mahan
Recipient of the Papal Blessing for his service to the Church through the administration of justice.
Judge Mahan is a long-time resident of Las Vegas, having lived and practiced law here continuously since 1973. He was born in El Paso, Texas and his family eventually moved to Grand Junction, Colorado, where he attended public schools.

After graduating from high, he attended the University of Charleston in West Virginia, where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Following graduation, he served in the United States Navy from March 23, 1966 to December 1, 1969.

Upon receiving his honorable discharge he attended Banderbilt University Law School. He was selected for Banderbilt’s national moot cout team, which competed with students from other law schools in presenting an appellate problem to a mock court.

He was admitted to practice in Nevada in 1974 in both state and federal court. He was admitted to practice before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1975 and U.S. Tax Court in 1979. The U.S. Supreme Court admitted him to that bar in 1980.

In 1982 he and Frank A. Ellis III formed the law firm of Mahnan & Ellis, Chartered, where they practiced law primarily in the areas of business and commercial litigation for seventeen years in Las Vegas. He held a rating of “A” from Martindale Hubbell legal directory.
In February 1999, Governor Kenny Guinn named him as his first appointment to the Clark County District Court. Judge Mahan heard civil and criminal matters and trials involving a 3,000 case docket assigned to him. He also heard probate matters and drug court when time permitted. Judge Mahan served as Chairman of the Committee for Review and Revise for the Eighth Judicial District Court Rules and for the Clark Regional Judicial Council. He also served as a member of the state judicial council, the Joint Task Force on Civil/Criminal Specialization and was appointed by the Nevada Supreme Court to the Study Committee to Review the Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure.

In the 2001 Las Vegas Review Journal survey, Judge Mahan received a 95% retention rating and a 96.3% adequacy rating. The highest rating of any sitting judge in the municipal courts, justice courts, (civil/criminal and family) and supreme court. In 2000 Judge Mahan ran for election to his seat and was unopposed.
In 2001 Senator John Ensign recommended Judge Mahan to the President as a nominee to federal court. On September 10, 2001, President Bush nominated Judge Mahan to serve as a U.S. District Judge in Nevada. The nomination was sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee which held its hearing on confirmation on December 5, 2001. Judge Mahan was favorably reported out of that committee and on January 25, 2002, the U. S. Senate voted 81-0 to confirm Judge Mahan as a Federal Judge. He began his term as a U.S. District Judge on February 1, 2002
Judge Mahan has been married 40 years to Eileen Casale and they have on son, James Jr.

Judge James C. Mahan

Kathryn E. Landreth, Esq.

Recipient of Gift

Kathryne E. Landreth, Esq.
Recipient of the Papal Blessing in recognition of exemplary service to those in need.

Kathryn Landreth joined the Nevada Chapter of The Nature Conservancy as its state director in July of 2005. Prior to that appointment, Ms. Landreth’s legal career included service as United States Attorney for the District of Nevada during the Clinton Administration and as legal advisor to the Clark County Sheriff. Kathryn previously worked as a lawyer in private practice and in senior management with Citicorp (now Citigroup). Prior to attending law school, she was Director of Forensics at the University of Nevada, Reno. Ms. Landreth holds a B.A. from Macalester College, an M.A. from The American University and a J.D. from the University of California at Davis.

She has been active in the areas of juvenile justice and mental health reform and has supported law-related education and legal services for lower income families. She currently serves on the board of directors of Grand Canyon Resort Corporation, a tribal enterprise operated by the Hualapai Nation in Arizona. Among her awards have been Public Advocate of the Year (National Association of Social Workers, Nevada Chapter); Public Lawyer of the Year (State Bar of Nevada); and Woman of Distinction in Government (Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce).

The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. During her years in federal service, Ms. Landreth developed a deep appreciation for Nevada’s sensitive public lands and the unique and imperiled species inhabiting them. She states that she joined The Nature Conservancy because of its proven track record of using science-based information to reach collaborative outcomes for conservation. In Southern Nevada, The Nature Conservancy has been instrumental in the creation of Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and in efforts to protect desert tortoise habitat. In Western Nevada, The Nature Conservancy is spearheading restoration of the Carson and Truckee Rivers to improve wildlife habitat and water quality.