Gibbons is expected to decide within 30 days but doesn't have a formal deadline.

Tuesday's hearing at the Supreme Court's Las Vegas venue marked the first time in the state's history that the commission allowed the public to sit in on the selection. In December, the hearings were made open to bolster confidence in judicial appointments.

Nevada Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Gibbons, who chairs the commission, said the hearing was a success.

"It was terrific. The public saw the selection process is not preordained," he said.

Duckworth, who is currently running for Family Court Department Q, has practiced family law in Las Vegas for 17 years. Hoskin has also practiced family law for 17 years and is running for Family Court Department R. Teuton formerly worked as a county prosecutor and has more than 30 years legal experience.

Whoever is chosen must run for re-election in 2010 if he wants to retain the seat.

During the hearing, commission members asked the candidates about their work history, how they could improve themselves and reasons for wanting to serve as a judge, among other things. The candidates were also given a hypothetical question to test their knowledge of the law.

At times, the hearing took on a light-hearted tone as the candidates bantered with the commissioners. At other times, the commissioners grilled the candidates when they wanted more information.

Las Vegas City Councilman and attorney Steve Wolfson, who served as a temporary commissioner, pushed candidate Robert Lueck to answer why he would want to serve as a judge even though voters did not elect him on two previous tries.

When Lueck answered that he felt the 2004 election that he lost was skewed and then explained how his opponents played dirty, Wolfson pressed him again to answer the question. Wolfson had to ask a third time when Lueck again talked about his previous races and then veered off into a discussion on how he wanted to improve the courts.

In another instance, the commissioners asked Hoskin about a letter of caution he received from the state bar. Hoskin replied that a former client made a complaint about him after a judge signed an order the client didn't formally sign off on because the client was out of state.

Not all information in the process was open to the public. The commissioners kept personal information about a candidate's health or financial information private. It also keeps confidential letters that it solicits from the public. Court officials previously said the letters are kept confidential so the authors feel free to be as candid as possible.

During Tuesday's hearing, the commissioners called candidates Amy Mastin and Morrisa Schechtman into a short private hearing after publicly interviewing them. Gibbons said the two candidates were asked about health or financial information.

The commission interviews, conducts background checks and gathers public comments on the candidates when a mid-term vacancy opens up.

The commission is made up of Chief Justice Gibbons, three attorneys appointed by the state bar association and three non-attorneys appointed by the governor. In District Court vacancies, two temporary members are chosen. One lawyer is appointed by the bar and one non-lawyer is picked by the governor.

Chief Justice Gibbons is not related to Gov. Gibbons.

Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.