Las Vegas, January 17, 2026 — A controversial judge will not be on the ballot this year in Nevada’s Clark County, and more than half of the judicial races will be uncontested, signaling a potentially limited choice for voters in November.
The filing deadline for judicial candidates in Clark County passed Friday, with a majority registering in the final hours at the Clark County Government Center.
- District Judge Erika Ballou, currently suspended without pay, will not seek to retain her seat.
- Colleen Brown is set to win her race unopposed for Ballou’s seat in Department 24.
- Of the 32 District Court departments, 26 Family Court seats, and two Nevada Supreme Court seats up for election, a significant number will not be contested.
- Several longtime judges have announced they will not seek reelection.
District Judge Erika Ballou, who is currently suspended from the bench without pay, did not file to retain her seat, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Colleen Brown, who previously practiced law as Colleen Baharav, filed over a week ago to run for Ballou’s seat in Department 24 and will be unopposed in the election. Ballou did not respond to a request for comment.
On the ballot in November will be 32 District Court departments and 26 Family Court seats, in addition to two seats on the Nevada Supreme Court. Of those races, 12 District Court races and seven Family Court races will be contested. Supreme Court justices Kristina Pickering and Douglas Herndon will be running unopposed to retain their seats. There are also 10 races between the Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson justice courts and municipal courts, including a new department in Henderson Justice Court. Two incumbents in Las Vegas Justice Court and one incumbent in both the North Las Vegas and Henderson justice courts will run unopposed.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Jake Villani, who is challenging District Judge Jennifer Schwartz in Department 17, expressed frustration with the lack of competition. “That’s not an election, that’s a sign-up,” he said.
The number of candidates this year is lower than in 2020, when approximately 136 judicial candidates ran for seats in District Court and valley justice courts. This year, just under 100 candidates are vying for those same positions. Political consultant Tom Letizia suggested that fewer public defenders ran this year, potentially due to a lack of candidates with the required 10 years of experience to run for District Court.
“I’m running with zero expectations, truly out of an interest and a desire to continue my public service,” said Alexander Hubert, a public defender challenging District Judge Tara Clark Newberry in Department 21.
Several other sitting judges have announced they will not seek another term. Family Court Judge Vincent Ochoa and District Judge Mark Denton both plan to serve out their present terms but will not run again. Denton has been on the bench since 1998, making him the longest-serving judge in District Court. District Judge Ronald Israel also did not file to retain his seat in Department 28, after receiving a retention score of just over 50 percent in the Review-Journal’s 2025 Judicial Performance Evaluation. His seat will be contested by attorney Danielle Tarmu and current Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Noreen DeMonte. Family Court Judges Arthur Ritchie and Robert Teuton also will not seek reelection.
District Judge Joanna Kishner, who received a retention score of less than 50 percent in the same survey, will be challenged by attorney Alexandra McLeod. Family Court Judges Mary Perry and Michele Mercer will also face opponents: attorneys Amber Candelaria, Jennifer Isso, and Kurt Smith.
Why It Matters
The high number of unopposed judicial candidates raises concerns about voter choice and accountability. When candidates run without opposition, voters have limited opportunities to evaluate their qualifications and platforms. This can lead to a less engaged electorate and potentially allow judges to remain in office without facing scrutiny. The lack of competition also highlights potential barriers to entry for challengers, such as fundraising requirements or established networks within the legal community. The situation underscores the importance of judicial performance evaluations, like the one conducted by the Review-Journal, in providing voters with information about incumbent judges.
Contact Katelyn Newberg at [email protected] or 702-383-0240. Review-Journal staff writer Akiya Dillon contributed to this report.
