Prosecutor speaks at Rotary

Alexander Hamilton once stated that the judicial branch is the “least dangerous to the political rights of the Constitution.” 

Ric Casper, presenter at the Minden Rotary Club meeting on Nov. 16, stated that quote is not as accurate of a statement anymore.

Casper is the newest member of the Douglas County District Attorney’s office coming most recently from the Nevada U.S. Attorney’s office in Reno where he served as a federal prosecutor for the past four years. 

A native Nevadan, he graduated from Yale Law School in the early 2000s and has worked for the Department of Justice, largely handling counterterrorism cases and prosecuting domestic violence cases. From 2013-2019, he served as a deputy district attorney in the criminal division in Douglas County.

In 2022, more than 98 percent of criminal cases in Nevada were handled in the state courts although they could be prosecuted in either state or federal court, Casper said.  Historically those prosecuted in federal court received stiffer sentences. 

Federal law provides what should be strict sentencing guidelines, but over the last several years the federal judges in Northern Nevada have been sentencing far less than the guidelines.  With one of the Judges, this is often only 10 percent of the federal guideline sentencing. 

Casper said he believes the current federal district court judges are too hostile to law enforcement. 

When asked how to change this practice he pointed out that “the Federal Courts don’t have a Kurt Hildebrand sitting through sentencings and reporting to the public the light sentences that are being handed down. Most people do not know what is happening in the Federal Court, and that is a shame.”

The Rotary Club of Minden meets noon Thursdays at the COD Casino Garage. 

The next meeting is Dec. 7. 

“Come join us, bring your lunch and get connected,” Rotarians said.