State LCB director joins justice group

Longtime Legislative Counsel Bureau Director Lorne Malkiewich has accepted the position of chief operating officer with the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

He will start work at the council's Reno headquarters April 3.

Malkiewich has been director of the counsel bureau for more than 18 years, longer than any other director.

He said the new job is a good fit for his skills and experience and similar to heading LCB.

"It makes use of what I'm good at," he said. "It's a brand new challenge. After being director 18 years, doing something different is completely exciting."

He said the new job also appeals to him because it is also public service. The council is a private nonprofit organization that works to improve the quality of juvenile and family courts through training programs, research into family court issues and other programs including drafting model legislation.

"I want to continue to do something that's good," he said.

He said the new job also allows him and his wife to remain in their Carson City home. Several other potential jobs would have required him to move to Las Vegas or out of state.

Malkiewich has spent his entire professional career with the LCB, signing on as a bill drafter with the legal division right out of law school 30 years ago. He rose to director of the legal division in 1987 and was named director of LCB in January 1994 after the retirement of John Crossley.

He announced plans to retire late last year, aiming to give the Legislative Commission as much time as possible to find and hire a replacement. With the help of a consultant, he said, the Committee to Consult with the Director hopes to have a list of applicants by April 16 and finalists by May 1. That would allow the commission to name his successor by mid-May.

Deputy LCB Director Tammy Grace will serve as interim director until then.