The Nevada Commission on Ethics on Oct. 16 granted commission counsel authority to defend the commission, the executive director and the commissioners in a lawsuit filed in the Second Judicial District Court alleging the commission improperly authorized an appeal.

Commission Counsel Bassett summarized the complaint, which seeks to prevent the commission from proceeding with its appeal of a district court order and alleges the commission’s authority to file the appeal violated Nevada’s open‑meeting law. "A complaint has been filed in the Second Judicial District Court that names the commission, the executive director and the commissioners, and it is seeking to prevent the commission from moving forward with its appeal…based on an assertion that the authority granted by this commission to file that appeal violated the open meeting law," Bassett said.

The motion approved by commissioners authorizes commission counsel to defend the named parties in case CV24‑02169, to file appropriate motions and to bring back major case‑disposition decisions (for example, dismissals or stipulations) to the full commission for approval. The commission also delegated authority to the chair and vice chair to consult with commission counsel on legal issues and decisions pursuant to cited agency rules, while reserving full commission review for dismissals or settlement agreements.

Commissioners approved the motion by voice vote. Commissioner disclosures were noted in the record: commissioners who represented or had ongoing relationships with the plaintiff disclosed those ties and abstained where required under the Nevada Revised Statutes; those commissioners were recused from participating in the related agenda items.

The authorization allows commission counsel to take immediate legal steps to defend the commission and the named individuals, subject to the reporting and return‑to‑commission provisions endorsed in the motion.