Clark County Judicial Race Heats up for Department 31 Seat

Clark County Judge Joanna Kishner is among the Eighth District incumbents who will face a challenger in this year's election. She is seeking a third term for Department 31 and will contend with attorney Alexandra Beth McLeod. Kishner noted that many experienced judges are facing challengers this election cycle, and she is part of that group.

McLeod stated her decision to challenge Kishner stemmed from the judge's ratings in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Judging the Judges survey. In that survey, 46.6% of the 232 attorneys who evaluated Kishner believed she should be retained. While her highest score was for integrity, her lowest score was for legal ability.

Kishner expressed reservations about the survey's significance, pointing out that the number of attorneys affiliated with firms listed as supporters on her website exceeds the total number of attorneys who completed the evaluation. She suggested that certain individuals might opt to complete the survey in an election year, noting she has never solicited participation. However, Kishner also mentioned that she has gained insights from the comments received. She observed that some individuals object to her practice of explaining her rulings, a practice she deems crucial for ensuring the reasoning behind decisions is understood, especially in the complex litigation she handles.

Judge Kishner's caseload includes almost all social media-related cases where the State of Nevada has taken legal action against various entities. This includes Attorney General Aaron Ford’s case against Meta, which contributed to a national settlement of up to $17.1 billion and Meta’s commitment to implement comprehensive child-safety features on its platforms. Nevada is projected to receive over $178 million from this settlement.

Another significant case Kishner cited is the State of Nevada vs. TikTok, a consumer protection matter. She noted that a group of highly sophisticated attorneys from across the country raised numerous challenges to the case being heard in her court. Kishner authored an extensive decision addressing these issues in response to TikTok's motion to dismiss. This decision was subsequently affirmed by the Nevada Supreme Court, allowing the state to proceed to trial against TikTok. She added that her ruling has since been referenced in other social media cases. Out of 155 civil appeals, Kishner has been found in error in 50 cases.

Kishner's campaign has garnered substantial support, including endorsements from dozens of law enforcement organizations and labor unions such as the Culinary and Bartenders unions. Her list of community and industry organization endorsements spans a broad spectrum, including the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, the Republican-funded Third Branch PAC, the Israeli American Civic Action Group, Asian American Pacific Islanders, the National Organization of Women (NOW), the Latin Chamber of Commerce, and the Adult Residential Care Providers of Nevada. As of July, Kishner had raised $487,000, with $452,000 remaining in her campaign funds.

Alexandra Beth McLeod, a graduate of McGeorge School of Law and a member of the Nevada Bar since 2002, is making her third attempt to secure a judicial seat, having run unsuccessfully in 2020 and 2024. Throughout her career, she has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in civil cases. McLeod believes that proceedings in Kishner’s court “have gotten a little stale” and that it is time for a change.

McLeod emphasized that her primary goal as a judge would be to maintain a respectful demeanor. Citing comments from the Review-Journal evaluation, she stated that attorneys appearing before Kishner sometimes feel disrespected as professionals and believe their clients are not receiving fair treatment. McLeod asserted she would restore courtesy to the courtroom. Department 31, which previously functioned as a business court, now handles civil matters.

McLeod also addressed the increasing use of artificial intelligence in litigation, acknowledging its potential to be confounding for both clients and legal professionals. She outlined a nuanced approach to pro se litigants and attorneys who utilize AI. While the ultimate outcome of a case would remain consistent, McLeod suggested that a violation committed by a trained and licensed attorney using AI would be considered more serious, potentially warranting a referral to the bar. In contrast, if a pro se litigant made a similar mistake, there would be no bar to which they could be reported. McLeod’s campaign has raised just under $48,000, including $30,000 in in-kind donations, and reports $42,000 on hand. Her website does not list any endorsements.