District Court Judge, Eighth Judicial District, Department 5

Presiding Judge, Eighth Judicial District, Dept. 5

• According to Judge Barisich’s website, “Before taking the bench, Judge Barisich built a highly respected legal career handling civil litigation, family law, guardianship and probate matters.”
• According to the website Westlaw, Barisich was listed as an attorney with Dempsey, Roberts & Smith on some court filings.
• Her 2020 election profile with The Nevada Independent indicates she was an attorney with Mandarich Law Group at the time of her election.

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• Fairness and Integrity: ensuring that all parties are heard, that decisions are based on law and evidence, and that the process is transparent.
• Accessibility: making the court process understandable and navigable for the public.
• Efficiency: balancing the need for thorough justice with respect for people’s time and resources.
• Community Service: recognizing that justice impacts not just individuals but families, neighborhoods, and the broader social fabric.
• Judge Barisich also highlights her commitment to ongoing education and professional development through completing continuing learning education classes through organizations such as the National Judicial College.

• Endorsements:
  • Public Safety Alliance of Nevada
  • Las Vegas Police Managers & Supervisors Association
  • Nevada Police Union
  • Las Vegas Police Protective Association
  • Las Vegas Peace Officer Supervisor Association
  • Police Officers Association of Clark County School District
  • Las Vegas Peace Officers Association
  • Peace Officer Research Association of Nevada
  • Sparks Police Protective Association
  • Reno Police Protective Association
  • Carson City Sheriff’s Supervisor Association
  • Washoe County Sheriff Deputies Association
  • Washoe County School Police Officer’s Association
  • Douglas County Sheriff’s Protective Association
  • Asian American Group
  • Armed Forces Chamber
  • Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada
  • Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 872
  • The Third Branch PAC
  • Southern Nevada Building Trades Union
  • Operative Plasterers’ & Cement Masons’ Local 797
  • Service Employees International Union Nevada Local 1107
  • Hispanics in Politics
  • Ironworkers Local 433
  • Plumbers, Pipefitters & Service Technicians Local 525
  • Nevada Veterans Caucus
  • Independent Black Voters
  • Nevada Veterans United
  • Teamsters Nevada
  • International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
• Major donors:
  • Per her most recent Contributions and Expenses Report filed with the Nevada Secretary of State, Judge Barisich raised $307,029.17 in contributions since Jan. 1, 2026, and spent $69,582.70 during the same time period.
  • Her largest donors in 2026 thus far are:
    • Smoke Ranch Enterprises (Las Vegas, NV) ($10,375.25)
    • Copper Oak LLC (Las Vegas, NV) ($10,000)
    • Andre Lagomarsino (Henderson, NV) ($5,187.75)
    • Richard Harris Law Firm (Las Vegas, NV) (total of $5,522.31)
    • Veronica Barisich (herself) (Henderson, NV) ($10,000)
    • Robert Adams (Las Vegas, NV) ($5,237.75)
    • Gina Corena (Las Vegas, NV) ($10,000)
    • Paul Padda Law (Las Vegas, NV) ($10,000)
    • Sam Ryan Heidari (Las Vegas, NV) ($10,000)
    • Hutchison & Steffen (Las Vegas, NV) ($10,000)
    • Ramzy Ladah (Las Vegas, NV) ($5,187.75)
  • Her donors primarily come from Las Vegas and Henderson, but there are many out of state donors from as far away as New York and Florida.

None listed

Chief Deputy District Attorney

• Attorney
  • Practice areas: Criminal prosecution (2023-present)
  • Prior job titles: Chief deputy public defender (2012-2023)

• Began public service career in 2011 as a law clerk at the Clark County Public Defender’s office. Promoted to Deputy Public Defender in 2012. Tried multiple jury trials to verdict. Mentored new attorneys, law clerks and interns. Handled multiple homicide cases solo without being assigned to the homicide team. Promoted to chief deputy public defender in 2017. Became an assistant team chief to assist with training new attorneys and support staff assigned to the team. Lead attorney and liaison for the office, during the inaugural year, 2019, of the Las Vegas Justice Initial Appearance Court. As the lead attorney and liaison for the office, I led a team of attorneys and interns to manage the twice a day, seven days a week court calendar, and attended committee meetings and internal meetings to provide data and feedback to improve the court’s efficacy and efficiency.
• Transferred to the District Attorney’s Office as chief deputy district attorney in January 2023. Assigned to Special Victims Unit Vehicular Crimes Team to prosecute felony DUI, reckless driving and hit-and-run resulting in bodily injury and/or death cases. Continued to be a State Bar of Nevada TIP mentor and had three mentees since becoming a chief deputy district attorney. Now serving as an assistant team chief, mentoring and supervising new attorneys, law clerks, and interns assigned to the team.

• As a public defender, I remember my first “Not Guilty” verdict that came in January 2015. I had been a public defender for just over two years. The trial went for six days and the presiding trial judge did not sustain a single defense objection. Everything was against us, but me and my co-counsel overcame and our client was acquitted. State v. Donald Mote, District Court (2015).
• As a district attorney, especially my time on the Vehicular Crimes Unit, those cases were always emotional, complex and garnered media attention. One of my last cases happened in May 2025. I was driving home one Friday evening, after picking up my husband from the airport. We were approaching Arbor View High School and the area was closed due to a fatal DUI crash investigation. Next week, I was assigned to that case. I met with the victims’ family. Helped them navigate through the criminal justice system and timeline. I met with case agent to go over evidence. Took the case to the grand jury and worked up the case for trial. Defendant ultimately pleaded guilty to the highest charge and was sentenced to the maximum prison sentence. The case resolved within six months from the crash. State v. Kendall Jackson, District Court (2025).

• Community safety: Apply sentences appropriate for the crimes based on facts of the case, defendant’s prior records and mitigating factors, if any.
• Community focused: Knowing when rehabilitation or community supervision may be a better and a long-term solution to stop/prevent future criminal behavior using specialty treatment court program(s). But also holding participants accountable and protecting the community with revocation and imposition of full sentence if rules are not followed.
• Balanced and fairness: experience from both sides of the criminal justice system. Empathetic but also fair and firm believer in accountability.

• Endorsements
  • Western States Regional Council of Carpenters
  • Clark County District Attorney Investigators Association
  • Clark County Deputy Marshals Association
  • Clark County Prosecutors Association
  • Culinary Workers Union Local 226
  • A Coalition for Fair and Qualified Nevada Judiciary
  • Nevada Association of Public Safety Officers
  • Southern Nevada Building Trades Union
  • Steven B. Wolfson, Clark County District Attorney
• Major donors:
  • Battle Born Injury Lawyers
  • Blackburn Wirth Injury Team
  • Carter Cullen
  • Christian Morris Trial Attorneys
  • Claggett & Sykes
  • Cogburn Davidson Injury Lawyers
  • David Boehrer Law Firm
  • De Castroverde Law Firm
  • GGRM Law Firm
  • H&P Law
  • Henness & Haight Injury Law
  • Hicks & Brasier
  • Maier Gutierrez & Associates
  • Moss Berg Injury Lawyers
  • Naqvi Injury Law
  • Paul Powell Law Firm
  • Price & Beckstrom
  • The Cottner Firm
  • Valiente Mott Injury Attorneys
  • Jason Mills, Esq.
  • Toby Yurek, Esq.

• Asian Bar Association of Nevada: Board of directors member, director of mentorship (2024-2026)
• Clark County Law Foundation: Board of trustees member (2020-present), immediate past president (2024), president (2023), president-elect (2022), senior attorney/instructor for Trial By Peers Program (2020-present)
• Junior League of Las Vegas, member (2017-2024)
• Leadership Las Vegas: Graduate (2019); volunteer for Criminal Justice Day (2020-present); co-chair for Criminal Justice Day 2027
• Shannon West Homeless Youth Center, volunteer as tutor and life skills presenter, including the “Know Your Rights” series (2017-present)
• State Bar of Nevada, Transitioning Into Practice (TIP) mentor (2020-present)
• The Just One Project, volunteer (2020-2023)