Judge Erica Flavin

Justice of the Peace Erica Flavin was elected to Sparks Justice Court, Department 4, in November 2022, taking the bench on January 3, 2023, for a six-year term. Judge Flavin’s connection to this community as well as her experience and varied perspectives made her the right choice.

Judge Flavin is a native Nevadan, raised in Sparks. She graduated from Reed High School and attended the University of Nevada, Reno, receiving her bachelor’s in criminal justice and master’s in justice management.

Judge Flavin started her legal career as a Pretrial Services Officer at the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and Washoe County Second Judicial District Court, and was a Law Clerk at the Neighborhood Justice Center in St. Paul Minnesota and at St. Louis Park City Attorney’s Office in Edina, Minnesota.

Judge Flavin graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law (formerly William Mitchell College of Law) in St. Paul, Minnesota, with honors, as she was the recipient of the William H. McGee Scholarship and Bruce Hanley Criminal Justice Scholarship. She served as a judicial extern for Justice Lidia Stiglich while sitting at Second Judicial District Court. Judge Flavin then became a Deputy Public Defender, Felony Division, for the Washoe County Public Defender’s Office serving six and one-half years.

Judge Flavin chose to be a deputy public defender because of her compassion for helping people. Becoming a justice of the peace was her next step in fulfilling her commitment to serve her community. She strives to ensure everyone is respected when they appear in court, they are treated fairly, and they feel safe living in our community.

Judge Flavin is responsible for conducting preliminary hearings for gross misdemeanors and felonies, and conducting trials for misdemeanors, citations, small claims, and civil actions. She reviews arrests to determine probable cause, issues arrest and search warrants, considers applications for temporary and extended protective orders, and hears summary eviction applications. She is additionally responsible for ensuring that all community service, fine payments, and drug and alcohol counseling are completed in a timely fashion.

Judge Flavin is also the presiding judge of Sparks Recovery Court. The overall mission of Sparks Recovery Court is to stop the abuse of alcohol and drugs, thereby reducing related criminal activity. Sparks Recovery Court provides participants who have a drug and/or alcohol addiction entry into a treatment program with ongoing monitoring and supervision to give them the tools to live a substance-free life.