District Court Judge, Eighth Judicial District, Department 31

Nonpartisan

Indy Analysis

Note: Information on these candidates is still being assembled and will be available shortly.

The judge received pretty good reviews, although panelists noted that she sometimes berates people in court. A good judge who needs to improve her temperament, but got the panel’s endorsement.

The Candidates

Kishner, Joanna S.

Joanna S. Kishner

Incumbent

Kishner was first elected to the seat in 2010. Before joining the bench, she was in private law practice for two decades, including time as senior counsel at Warner Bros.

Campaign Website

Kishner was first elected to the seat in 2010. Before joining the bench, she was in private law practice for two decades, including time as senior counsel at Warner Bros.

Candidate Deep Dive

Kishner, Joanna S.

Years Licensed in NV

  • 1991; approximately 35 years
  • Also admitted to practice in California in 1989 and licensed to appear before multiple federal courts.

Court Docket

Complex civil litigation, including Nevada Complex Business Court matters, construction defect cases, and general civil matters. Business Court cases may involve major financial disputes, complex corporate and regulatory issues, rapidly developing areas of law, and parties and counsel from multiple jurisdictions.

Trial Stats

Reports having presided over hundreds of trials during her judicial tenure, including some of the largest cases in Nevada.

Recusals

No specific recusals were identified in the candidate questionnaire.

Ethics History

  • No disciplinary or judicial ethics violations were identified in the information provided by the candidate.
  • Currently serves as a member of Nevada’s Standing Committee on Judicial Ethics.

Sanctions

No sanctions were identified in the information provided by the candidate.

Title

  • District Court Judge, Department 31, Eighth Judicial District Court
    • Presides over: Nevada’s Complex Business Court and complex civil litigation. Her docket includes sophisticated business disputes involving financial, corporate, regulatory, and other complex legal issues, as well as construction defect and general civil matters. She has also overseen criminal matters, participated in the court’s Search Warrant program, and conducts settlement conferences in cases assigned to other judges.
    • Practice Areas: Complex civil litigation; business and commercial litigation; construction defect; general civil matters.
  • Prior Job Titles:
  • Senior Counsel, Warner Bros.
  • Associate, Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker
  • Attorney, DLA Piper and its predecessor firms in Las Vegas
  • Justice of the Peace Pro Tem
  • Small Claims Referee
  • Arbitrator, Court Annexed Arbitration Program

Career Highlights

  • Born and raised in Southern Nevada.
  • Graduated from Ed W. Clark High School in 1982 as valedictorian.
  • Graduated magna cum laude from Claremont McKenna College in 1986 with a double major in Political Science and Psychology.
  • Earned her J.D. from UCLA School of Law in 1989.
  • Practiced law for more than two decades before joining the bench, including positions with Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker, Warner Bros., and DLA Piper and its predecessor firms in Las Vegas.
  • Her pre-judicial career included private-practice and in-house experience involving litigation, client counseling, administrative proceedings, training, and advising.
  • Has held leadership positions within Nevada’s judiciary, including serving as President of the Nevada District Judges Association and Chairperson of the Rules Committee.
  • Has received recognition for judicial excellence and community service.

Significant Cases

  • Did not identify individual cases in her questionnaire.
  • Reports having presided over hundreds of trials, including some of Nevada’s largest cases, and currently handles sophisticated Complex Business Court matters involving substantial financial, corporate, and regulatory disputes.

Judicial Philosophy

  • Emphasizes experience, fairness, impartiality, preparation, integrity, and adherence to the law.
  • Describes her judicial approach as reviewing the facts and law presented by the parties, independently researching relevant issues, listening to the parties, and issuing reasoned decisions based on the applicable law and facts rather than political considerations or the popularity of a particular result.
  • Emphasizes clarity, civility, respect for litigants, and timely resolution of cases.
  • Identifies access to justice as an important judicial priority. Approximately a decade ago, she created a program allowing attorneys handling active pro bono matters to have those cases heard first. The initiative was later expanded with other judges to include civil and family law matters.
  • Views judges as public servants and emphasizes maintaining public confidence in the courts and ensuring that the judicial system remains accessible and responsive to the community.

Endorsements & Contributions

  • Reports support from approximately 40 organizations representing first responders, law enforcement, working families, veterans, diverse communities, and members of the legal profession.
  • Current organizational endorsements listed by her campaign include the Nevada Police Union, Public Safety Alliance of Nevada, Las Vegas Police Managers & Supervisors Association, Las Vegas Police Protective Association, Police Officers Association of Clark County School District, Peace Officers Research Association of Nevada, Nevada Association of Public Safety Officers, Clark County Prosecutors Association, Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada, Fraternal Order of Police, Southern Nevada Building Trades Unions, Laborers’ International Union of North America, Veterans in Politics, Nevada Veterans Association, Armed Forces Chamber, Asian American Group, and Third Branch PAC, among others.
  • Campaign contribution amounts were not provided in the candidate questionnaire.

Community Service

  • Member, Nevada Access to Justice Commission
  • Trustee, Law Library Board of Trustees
  • Member, Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada Pro Bono Advisory Council
  • Member, Nevada Standing Committee on Judicial Ethics
  • Member, American College of Business Court Judges
  • Member, National Association of Women Judges
  • Former member, Boyd School of Law Public Interest Executive Board
  • Member of various bar associations and community organizations, including the FBI Citizens Academy
  • Previously served on the boards of Clark High School and A-TECH.
  • Created a Legal Studies Internship program providing high school students with exposure to the legal profession.
  • Participated in the Open World program involving engagement with judges from other countries.
  • Has provided pro bono assistance to children, including through the Children’s Attorney Project and immigration matters involving children, as well as assistance to elderly and underserved members of the community.
  • Mentors young attorneys and supports public-interest legal work and community outreach.
No Photo

Alexandra Beth McLeod

McLeod has been in private law practice with various firms since 2003, handling civil litigation, criminal defense and personal injury cases.

Campaign Website

McLeod has been in private law practice with various firms since 2003, handling civil litigation, criminal defense and personal injury cases.

Candidate Deep Dive

McLeod, Alexandra Beth

Years Licensed in NV

Nevada: 23 years. Admitted in 2002.

Court Docket

  • More than 15 cases taken to jury verdict or judgment, including three as lead counsel.
  • About 500 arbitrations, settlement conferences and mediations.

Ethics History

No negative ethics history.

Sanctions

None.

Title

  • Of counsel, Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP: November 2022 to present
    • Civil defense litigation through all phases: law and motion, discovery and depositions, mediation, arbitration, settlement and trial preparation.
  • Court-annexed arbitrator, Eighth Judicial District Court
  • Short trial judge, Eighth Judicial District Court
  • Practice areas in current position
    • Automobile and transportation negligence, including commercial vehicle and trucking claims.
    • Premises liability, including casino and resort property claims.
    • Products liability.
    • Catastrophic injury and large-loss exposure: severe spinal injury, brain injury and fatality claims.
    • Insurance defense for insured and self-insured individuals and companies.
    • Alternative dispute resolution, as advocate and as neutral.
    • Practice distribution:
      • 94 percent trial court civil cases
      • 5 percent appellate civil
      • 1 percent domestic and family (cases under the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada's Children's Attorney Project)
  • Prior job titles
    • Of counsel, Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP, Las Vegas: November 2022 to present
    • Trial attorney, Nettles Morris, Henderson: August 2021 to August 2022
      • Plaintiff-side practice in severe spinal injury, brain injury and catastrophic personal injury matters. Supervised one of the firm's two litigation teams.
      • Three jury trials, one before Judge Linda Bell and two before Judge Eric Johnson.
    • Trial attorney, AIG Staff Counsel, formerly Grant & Associates, Las Vegas: September 2017 to August 2021
      • Insurer staff counsel defending AIG-insured companies and their employees.
    • Senior associate attorney, Thorndal Armstrong Delk Balkenbush & Eisinger, Las Vegas: February 2014 to September 2017
      • Civil defense litigation emphasizing premises liability and automobile and transportation negligence, including catastrophic injury and fatality accidents.
    • Supervising attorney, Brady, Vorwerck, Ryder & Caspino, Las Vegas: October 2008 to January 2014
      • Managed the Las Vegas casualty unit of a 35-plus-lawyer, seven-office defense firm; supervised associates and staff; handled and tried cases.
    • Senior associate attorney, Lewis & Associates, Las Vegas: March 2007 to September 2008
      • Full litigated insurance defense caseload.
    • Associate attorney, Seegmiller & Associates, Las Vegas: August 2006 to February 2007
      • Plaintiffs' personal injury claims and trial practice.
    • Associate attorney, Lewis & Shreve LLP, Las Vegas: January 2003 to August 2006
      • Full litigated insurance defense caseload.
    • Adjunct professor, University of Phoenix, Las Vegas campus: 2008 to 2014
      • Taught business law, negotiations and ethics.

Career Highlights

  • Education
    • Law degree, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law: May 2002
      • Class rank: top 25 percent
    • Bachelor's degree in political science, cum laude, with a minor in Spanish, American University, Washington, D.C.: 1999
    • Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, Connecticut: diploma cum laude, 1996
    • Ras Tanura International School, Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia: 1991 to 1993
  • Law school activities
    • McGeorge Law Review, 2000 to 2001
    • Editor, The Transnational Lawyer, 2001 to 2002
    • Community Legal Services: certified law student 2000 to 2002, governing board member 2001 to 2002.
    • Trial Advocacy and Advanced Trial Advocacy clinics
    • Judicial internship with Judge Roger Hunt, U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada: May to August 2001
    • Research assistant to torts professor Julie Davies, 2000 to 2002
  • Career milestones and recognition
    • AV Preeminent peer-review rating, Martindale-Hubbell: 2015
    • Bar chair, Eighth Judicial District Court Civil Bench-Bar Committee: 2019 to 2023
      • The Bench-Bar Committee is a standing body of judges and practicing lawyers that addresses court rules, procedure and relations between the court and the bar. The bar chair is the practitioner co-chair, serving opposite a judicial co-chair.
    • Southern Nevada Association of Women Attorneys: president and immediate past president, 2023 to 2025
    • Las Vegas Defense Lawyers: former member of the board of directors
    • Nevada Justice Association (plaintiffs' bar association): former member
    • Appointed by the Nevada Supreme Court as a Transition Into Practice mentor.

Significant Cases

  • Van Horn v. USF Fabrication et al.
    • McLeod's first trial resulting in a favorable verdict for her client.
    • Personal injury suit with product defect and negligence claims.
  • Bradley v. Driggs
    • McLeod was defense counsel, first chair at trial, with principal responsibility for voir dire, opening statement and witness examination.
    • Settled at the close of the defense case, before closing argument.
  • Frabotta v. Ramparts Inc.
    • The first trial McLeod took part in that did not end in a favorable verdict for her client.
    • Negligent security case alleging a property owner failed to protect a patron from foreseeable criminal conduct.
  • Yang v. Hammond
    • Solo defense counsel in a personal injury automobile case.
  • Howard v. Caesars Linq LLC
    • Lead counsel for the plaintiff at trial.
    • Personal injury case involving broken glass outside the Off the Strip restaurant at the Linq Promenade.

Judicial Philosophy

  • McLeod says she intends to act as a "referee" who does not pick sides but ensures the rules are followed so the process is fair.
  • McLeod thinks a judge's job is "about listening carefully, applying the law impartially," and treating everyone in the courtroom with dignity.
  • Is committed to fairness, respect and equal justice under law.
  • Wants to promote more efficient operation of the Eighth Judicial District Court and commits to making the system fairer and more efficient.

Endorsements & Contributions

  • Endorsements
    • 2026 endorsements:
      • None
    • 2024 endorsements:
      • Teamsters Locals 631, 14 and 986
    • 2020 endorsements:
      • Nevada First Agenda Association
      • Las Vegas Spectrum
  • Contributions: 2026 cycle
    • Of her contributions, 19.6 percent ($10,250) came from the legal profession.
    • The remaining 80.4 percent came from nonlegal business and investor donors, unclassified donors and her own funding.
    • Of her contributions, 78.2 percent ($41,000) came from nonlegal business and investor donors, meaning individuals and companies with no law practice, here consisting entirely of one family and its affiliated entities: Jay Bloom, Carolyn Farkas, Sean Bloom, One Collect LLC and Rapidly Mobilizing LLC.
    • Of her contributions, 9.5 percent ($5,000) came from McLeod's former firm, Thorndal Armstrong Delk Balkenbush & Eisinger, where she worked from 2014 to 2017.
      • The single contributor is Aileen Cohen, an insurance defense and coverage attorney at that firm who also served on the Las Vegas Defense Lawyers board.
    • Of her contributions, 5.2 percent ($2,750) came from plaintiffs' personal injury firms, which represent injured people suing for money damages and are paid a percentage of the recovery: Panish Shea & Boyle LLP ($1,500), Mitchell Rogers Injury Law ($500), Jonathan Remmel ($500) and Christopher Young PC ($250).
    • Of her contributions, 2.9 percent ($1,500) came from McLeod's current firm, Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP, an insurance and civil defense firm hired by insurance companies and businesses to defend against injury claims: the firm itself ($1,250) and associate Jonathan Pattillo ($250).
    • No contributions appear from probate, trust and estate, family law or employment attorneys, or from former judges and private neutrals.
    • No criminal defense firm contributed other than The Vieira Firm, whose practice includes criminal defense alongside civil rights and immigration.

Community Service

  • Transition Into Practice mentor, appointed by the Nevada Supreme Court.
  • Goldilocks program, Young Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Nevada, teaching elementary school students about the legal system.
  • Mock trial judge for student competitions.
  • Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada Children's Attorney Project pro bono cases.
  • Church service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.