Leadership Announcements in Nevada’s Judiciary: Herndon Named Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Bulla Appointed Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals
CARSON CITY, Nev., -- January 6, 2025 – The Nevada Judiciary announced today leadership transitions as Justice Douglas W. Herndon officially begins his two-year term as Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court, succeeding Justice Elissa F. Cadish; and Judge Bonnie A. Bulla assumes her appointed role as Chief Judge of the Nevada Court of Appeals for a four-year term.
As Chief Justice, Herndon will step into the role of administrative head of the Nevada Judiciary and the official public voice of the Nevada Supreme Court.
"I am honored to serve as Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court," Chief Justice Herndon said. "Justice Cadish is a tremendous jurist and a great friend who has provided our court with exemplary leadership, and I look forward to building upon her efforts as we continue to promote appreciation for civility in the legal profession, ensure access to justice, uphold fairness and enhance the efficiency of our court system."
“It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve as Chief Justice and lead our Nevada Judiciary this year,” said Justice Cadish. “I am confident that Justice Herndon’s qualities as smart, thoughtful, and hard-working will serve him well as Chief Justice, and I look forward to his outstanding leadership for the next two years.”
Justice Herndon has served on the Nevada Supreme Court since his election in 2020. Before his tenure on the Supreme Court, he served as a District Court judge in the Eighth Judicial District Court in Clark County for 15 years, where he presided over civil and criminal cases and was the Chief Judge of the court’s Criminal Division and Homicide Case Team.
During his 15 years on the District Court bench, Justice Herndon earned multiple top ratings, including the highest performance rating among District Court judges in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's 2019 judicial evaluation. He has received numerous accolades, such as the Light and Wisdom Diamond Award for Judicial Excellence in 2019, the Community Service Award from The Rape Crisis Center in 2010, the Gary Collie Award from the Community Coalition for Victim's Rights in 2005 and the Man of the Year honor from Family and Child Treatment of Southern Nevada in 2003.
As Chief Judge of the Nevada Court of Appeals, Judge Bonnie A. Bulla succeeds Judge Michael P. Gibbons. Judge Bulla was appointed to the Nevada Court of Appeals in 2019 by Governor Steve Sisolak, previously serving as Discovery Commissioner for the Eighth Judicial District Court in Clark County for more than a decade.
Chief Judge Bulla will oversee the administrative functions of the Court of Appeals and provide leadership to ensure timely and fair resolution of appeals.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to lead the Court of Appeals and am appreciative of Chief Judge Gibbons’ steady leadership during the court’s first decade,” said Chief Judge Bulla. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue providing thoughtful and thorough appellate review for the people of Nevada and moving the court forward in a positive direction.”
Over the course of her 37-year legal career, Judge Bulla has been the President of the Southern Nevada Association of Women Attorneys, and of the Howard D. McKibben Chapter of the American Inns of Court. She also held the offices of Clerk and Speaker of the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. She served as a member of the Nevada Supreme Court Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure Committee, which completed a major revision of the rules in 2018. She recently served on the Commission to revise the Nevada Rules of Appellate Procedure, which became effective in August 2024.
In 2018, she had the distinction of receiving the Clark County Law Foundation’s Liberty Bell Award, which honors distinguished members of the community who uphold the rule of law, contribute to good government within the community, stimulate a sense of civic responsibility, and encourage respect for the law in the courts.
Justice Cadish will remain on the Nevada Supreme Court as she begins a new six-year term as Justice today. Judge Gibbons will also continue to serve on the Nevada Court of Appeals.
About the Nevada Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Nevada is the highest court of the Judicial branch. There are seven Justices on the court who are elected to six-year terms, with one Justice serving as Chief Justice. The court’s primary responsibility is to review and rule on appeals from District Court cases and determine if legal or procedural errors were committed during the case. The court conducts regular sessions in Carson City and Las Vegas. To learn more about Nevada’s judicial branch, visit https://nvcourts.gov/supreme.
About the Nevada Court of Appeals:
The Nevada Court of Appeals began hearing cases in January 2015. This three-judge court operates under a deflective model, receiving approximately one-third of all cases submitted to the Nevada Supreme Court. Cases are assigned by the Supreme Court, streamlining the judicial process and improving efficiency. The Court of Appeals addresses a diverse range of legal matters, easing the caseload of the Supreme Court, which retains its role as Nevada's highest court.
MEDIA CONTACT:
MediaInquiries@nvcourts.nv.gov