Our Opinion: Judges step in where lawmakers fear to tread

We're concerned with the role the Nevada Supreme Court has played in this Legislative session.

While it is certainly the role of the court to determine the legality of laws passed by the legislature, this session saw the court involved in the budgeting process.

We never believed that it was right for the Legislature to sweep up money from funds devoted to other things, but with a former attorney general and federal court judge serving in the state house, we'd assumed it was legal.

Then last week, the high court ruled the plan illegal and forced the governor, and legislators on both sides of the aisle, to the table.

The other big issue this session, reapportionment, will also be left to the courts after a half-hearted attempt on the part of the Legislature to pass redistricting that was bounced by the governor.

It will be weeks and even months before the full effect of this Legislature is known. There is no deliberative body we know of that has quite the talent for unforeseen consequences as the Nevada Legislature.

We're certain that the bills to separate Nevada from the TRPA and reducing restrictions on smoking in eating places will also end up in the courts.

We feel the flavor of this last session was more judicially oligarchic than republican.

At least voters rejected a plan to appoint judges, so we'll have some say in who decides our future.