Justice Of The Peace, Henderson, Dept. 3

• Current Title:
  • Incumbent Chief Judge, Henderson Justice Court, Dept. 3
    • Practice Areas: Criminal (Special Victims and Gang Unit primarily)
• Prior Job Titles:
  • Domestic Violence Temporary Protective Order Hearing Master
  • Chief Deputy District Attorney for Clark County
  • Member of Southern Nevada Human Trafficking Task Force
  • Deputy District Attorney for Clark County
  • Legal Researcher for Nevada Attorney General’s Office
  • Illinois Legal Aid

• Shifalacqua is Henderson's first female chief judge.
• She instituted the fourth department for Municipal Courts of Henderson Township.
• She said she is proud of her time helping the community during her tenure on the SVU and Trafficking task force. She says they made a huge impact by helping marginalized communities and cleaning the streets up.

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• Equity through attention. Schifalacqua said she believes no task is too small for a judge’s full attention
• Experience matters.
• Equal access to justice matters.

• Major donors:
  • Back the Badge PAC
  • Eviction firms
  • Nevada State Apartment Association
  • Herself and her family
  • Penn Entertainment
• Endorsements:
  • Henderson Police Officers’Association
  • Henderson Police Supervisors’Association
  • Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada
  • Armed Forces Chamber
  • Nevada Association of Public Safety Officers
  • Nevada Veterans Association
  • Public Safety Alliance of Nevada
  • Veterans in Politics International
  • Clark County Prosecutor’s Association
  • Clark County District Attorney’s Investigators Association
  • Law Enforcement Assistance Fund
  • Peace Officer Research Association of Nevada
  • Vegas Strong

• Serving our Kids Foundation
  • Volunteer
• Daughters of the American Revolution
  • Volunteer
• Nevada Reading Week
  • Reader
• Serves on the Clark County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
• Serves on the Pretrial Services Advancement Subcommittee
• St. Viator Catholic Church
  • Project 150 homeless shelter for youth
• Just neighbors
  • Assist helping neighbors by adopting families to help throughout the year
• Veterans Action Foundation
  • Attends monthly meetings to talk with veterans and spend time with them

• Founder of Hendron Law Group, LLC
• Prior job titles:
  • Pro tempore judge for Las Vegas Justice Court (2015-2022)
  • As a pro tempore judge, he presided over:
    • Small claims under $10,000 (breach of contract disputes, property disputes, etc.)

• He practices criminal matters in state and federal court.
• He received the Witkin Award for Academic Excellence in Legal Advocacy and Family Law.

• He has been appointed to the Federal Criminal Justice Act Panel, which defends individuals in serious federal cases
• Alternatives to incarceration
  • He remembers getting an individual into a substance abuse drug court. He completed the drug court’s treatment plan and was able to rebuild his life.
• In another case, his client was charged with impersonating law enforcement. When reviewing the investigation, he was able to prove that a witness identified the wrong person. This showed why it was important for the system to have checks and balances.

• Fairness, compassion, and common sense
  • He said that a fair judge is a good listener and takes into account all the facts. Fairness is about giving an opportunity to be heard and applying the law consistently.
  • “Everyone comes in on equal footing,” he said.
  • He believes judges must base their decisions on evidence, but another aspect to judging is to explain those decisions clearly.
  • Respect in the courtroom
  • Judges must take the time to make sure people understand the process. He said a judge needs to make sure that juries don’t make conclusions when they are confused.

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• Clark County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
  • Mission: This is a partnership that includes law enforcement, judges and attorneys to improve efficiency and fairness in the criminal justice system.
  • Position: Inaugural representative
• The Just One Project
  • Mission: The Just One project serves the unhoused and underserved populations of Southern Nevada through community markets, grocery deliveries, etc.
  • Position: Volunteer
• Shine a Light Foundation
  • Mission: This is a nonprofit that serves the unhoused and underserved populations of Southern Nevada that live in the underground flood channels.
  • Position: Volunteer
• Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada
  • Mission: Legal Aid provides legal services for low-income Nevadans who are facing evictions, need domestic violence protection orders.
  • Position: Pro Bono Advisory Council member
• Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice
  • Mission: This is an organization of criminal defense attorneys who are devoted to improving the judicial system.
  • Position: Executive Board member
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Mission: This is an association that supports studies on criminal justice disparities and provides resources for defense lawyers.
  • Position: Life member
• National Judicial College
  • Mission: This organization provides judicial education to judges across the country.
  • Position: Volunteer
• We the People
  • Mission: This is a yearly competition that simulates a congressional hearing. It educates students about civic education and constitutional law.
  • Position: Volunteer Judge

Job title: Partner at Parker and Edwards Practice areas: Insurance defense, administrative law, products liability, civil litigation