Las Vegas Justice Court Dept 4
One panelist summed it up this way: “I have never felt comfortable that I was being heard or that the decisions that were being made as a pro tem judge were thoughtful in that particular courtroom. She's got a decent enough demeanor, unless you challenge the decision making that's happening, and then it turns very nasty very quickly. I think hands away for me, the standout here is Jessica Smith-Peterson, without a doubt, I don't think any of the other candidates, ... really come close. And I think that Susan Baucum’s attempt to return to the to the bench after being rejected by voters before, after getting significant low retention scores in the old RJ readers poll, and making a lot of really bad decisions as it comes towards bail, many of which were overturned in the District Court, is pretty disqualifying for her return under these circumstances.” Another: “I think Smith-Peterson is a clear choice … She's incredibly thoughtful and she's insightful. She reads the law, she knows the law, and she is an incredibly hard worker. She's heads above everybody else here.” Others made similar comments. The bottom line: Clear choice is Smith-Peterson
Suzan Baucum
Career Highlights
- Justice of the Peace for Department 13 (2010-2023)
- Chief Judge of the Las Vegas Justice Court (2019-2020)
- Judge Pro Tempore for the Las Vegas Municipal Court and the North Las Vegas Justice Court.
Court Docket
N/A
Ethics History
- Ethics Violations: None reported
- Sanctions: No known sanctions
Judicial Experience
- Judge for Department 13 of the Las Vegas Township Justice Court (former)
Practice Areas
- Civil law
- Criminal law
Volunteer and Community Service
- Clark County Bar Association
- State Bar of Nevada
- Colleague of the Nevada Law Foundation
- Red Cross
- Jerry Lewis telethon
- United Blood Service
- American Heart Association
- American Cancer Society
Years Licensed
Since 1992
Endorsements & Contributions
- Endorsements:
- Gov. Joe Lombardo
- Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony
- Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill
- Nevada Peace Officers Association (NPOA)
- Henderson Police Officers Association (HPOA
- Juvenile Justice Probation Officers Association (JJPOA)
- Juvenile Justice Supervisors Association (JJSA)
- Las Vegas Metro Police Protective Association for Civilian Employees (PPACE)
- Clark County Park Police Association
- Elko County Deputy Sheriff's Association
- Pershing County Law Enforcement Association
- Mesquite Police Officers' Association (MPOA)
- Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson
- Veterans in Politics International
- Nevada Veterans Association
- Armed Forced Chamber PAC
- Danny Thompson, Former Assemblyman and Executive Secretary Treasurer, Nevada State AFL-CIO
- Professional Firefighters of Nevada
- Clark County Prosecutors Association (CCPA)
- Contributions:
- N/A
Hilary Heap
Career Highlights
- Since 2023, member of “Resort Corridor Court”
- Helps protect locals and tourists that are victims on the Strip
- Help at-risk community members receive rehabilitative services
- DA
- March 2024 Team Chief of General Litigation
- 2012 – Chief Deputy District Attorney
- 2017 – High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (“HIDTA”) specialty unit
- UNLV Professor (since 2020)
- Undergrad criminal law classes
- Law Clerk, Appellate division for DA office
- Boyd Law & UNLV undergrad
Ethics History
- Ethics Violations: None
- Sanctions: None
Judicial Experience
None
Volunteer and Community Service
- Part-time instructor at UNLV
Years Licensed
2011, 13 years
Endorsements & Contributions
- Clark County Prosecutors Association
- Henderson Police Supervisors Association
- NLV (North Las Vegas) Police Supervisors Association
- North Las Vegas Police Officers Association
- District Attorney Steve Wolfson
- Multiple MMA/UFC fighters
- 12 businesses
- 18 community supporters
- 23 law enforcement supporters
- More than 100 individual attorneys
Jessica Smith-Peterson
Career Highlights
- Deputy Public Defender at Clark County Public Defender
Court Docket
N/A
Ethics History
- Ethics Violations: None reported.
- Sanctions: No known sanctions
Judicial Experience
- N/A
Practice Areas
- Civil law
- Criminal law
Volunteer and Community Service
- National Lawyers Guild Las Vegas chapter
- Las Vegas Urban League Young Professionals
- Las Vegas Chapter of the National Bar Association
- Prison Families Alliance
Years Licensed
Since 1992
Endorsements & Contributions
- Endorsements:
- N/A
- Contributions:
- N/A
Holly Stoberski
Career Highlights
- Educational Background:
- Undergraduate: Graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University, Dean’s List
- Law School: Obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Colorado
- Professional Experience:
- Managing Partner
- Responsibilities: Opened and oversaw the Las Vegas office of a distinguished Reno law firm, managing national and international disputes
- Insurance Defense Attorney
- Responsibilities: Handled complex civil litigation in state and federal courts
- Judicial Experience:
- Justice of the Peace, pro tempore (Appointed by Clark County Board of Commissioners in 2011)
- Responsibilities: Presided over civil and criminal trials, specialty courts, known for integrity and fair adjudication
- Justice of the Peace, pro tempore (Appointed by Clark County Board of Commissioners in 2011)
- Managing Partner
Court Docket
Presides over a wide array of cases including civil and criminal trials, specialty courts such as drug and domestic violence courts
Ethics History
- Ethics Violations: None reported
- Sanctions: No known sanctions
Judicial Experience
Justice of the Peace, pro tempore (Clark County, North Las Vegas, and Henderson)
Practice Areas
Specializes in secured transactions, contract disputes, and forbearances; Justice of the Peace, pro tempore
Prior Job Titles
- Managing Partner, Las Vegas Office of a Reno law firm
- Insurance Defense Attorney
- Justice of the Peace, pro tempore
- Administrative Appeal Hearing Officer for Clark County
Years Licensed
25+ years, Bar # 5490
Endorsements & Contributions
Voice of the Veteran, Clark County Deputy Marshalls Association, LiUNA 872, Southern Nevada Central Labor Council
