Faculty

Senior Judge Kevin Higgins was appointed to the Sparks Justice Court on April 15, 2003, was retained in 2004, and was re-elected in 2010, 2016, 2022 and took senior status in 2026. Senior Judge Higgins graduated from Reed High School in 1978 and Willamette University...

Judge Brandy Holbrook was elected to Carlin Justice and Municipal Court in 2024, taking the bench on January 6, 2025. Judge Holbrook was the 3rd generation of her family to graduate from Carlin High School...

Judge Chris Jeter currently serves as the Justice of the Peace for the Searchlight Justice Court in Clark County, Nevada. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Jeter served with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for 25 years...

Danielle Johnson was appointed to the Esmeralda Township Justice Court on October 2, 2017, was then elected in 2019, and then re-elected June 11, 2024. Judge Johnson is a third-generation Goldfield resident who has a strong commitment to her community, family and the legal system...

Judge Jennifer Klapper began her career with Tonopah Justice Court in 1998 as a part-time clerk, advancing to court administrator prior to being elected to the bench. She has served as Justice of the Peace since 2013 and was appointed Juvenile Hearing Officer by the 5th Judicial District Court in 2014...

Judge Jessica Goodey was elected to the Las Vegas Justice Court in November of 2022 and took the bench in January 2023. Elected for a six-year term, she currently presides over a civil calendar...

Judge Mangiaracina took the bench as the Justice of the Peace in Incline Village on January 6, 2025. Before taking the bench, Judge Mangiaracina dedicated her legal practice to helping her community, working as the Directing Attorney of the Senior Law Project for Washoe County...

Judge Melisa De La Garza was raised in Las Vegas and received her Bachelor of Science with a degree in Criminal Justice at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Judge De La Garza obtained her Juris Doctorate from the Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, Nebraska...

Judge Ryan Katherine Sullivan was elected as Justice of the Peace in June of 2016. Prior to joining Reno Justice Court, Ryan practiced indigent criminal defense for 19 years at the Washoe County Public Defender’s office where she held the position of Chief Deputy...

Judge Stephen J. Bishop was appointed as Justice of the Peace for Ely Justice Court in 2011. Prior to being appointed to the bench, he worked in the White Pine County District Attorney’s Office...

Eve Hanan is a Professor of Law at the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, where she teaches criminal law, criminal procedure, evidence, and a course on the Sixth Amendment right to counsel. She also supervises student attorneys representing clients in criminal proceedings through the UNLV Thomas & Mack Legal Clinic...

Holding a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, she has built a career centered on strategic leadership, organizational communication, customer service excellence, and a strong appreciation for the role of law and public policy in effective governance...

Jen Donovan, Wellness Specialist, E-RYT, RCYT, RPYT, YACEP, LCE, is a registered Yoga Instructor, certified Sound Healer, and certified Rawfood Nutrition teacher who leads sessions on breathwork techniques, posture, yoga/chi-gong movement, plant-based whole foods education, meditation, and music sound therapy...

Teresa is a seasoned executive and strategic leader with over 20 years of comprehensive management experience, specializing in financial services, pension administration, public relations and presentations, recruitment and personnel, banking operations, real estate...

For more than 20 years, Tom has provided non-legal government and public affairs services on behalf of his clients before federal, state, and local governments and regulatory agencies. He has also managed numerous local and statewide political campaigns for candidates and ballot related initiatives...