Jessica Peterson
Nevada 8th Judicial District Court Department 8
Tenure
2021 - Present
Term ends
2027
Years in position
5
Elections and appointments
Education
Personal
Contact
Jessica Peterson is a judge for Department 8 of the Nevada 8th Judicial District Court. She assumed office on January 4, 2021. Her current term ends on January 4, 2027.
Peterson ran for election for the Department 8 judge of the Nevada 8th Judicial District Court. She won in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Peterson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Jessica Peterson was born in London. She received an associate degree from Highline Community College in 1994, a bachelor's degree from the Evergreen State College in 1996, and a J.D. from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2000. Peterson's professional experience includes being an attorney and junior partner at Flangas Law Group.[1]
Elections
2020
See also: Municipal elections in Clark County, Nevada (2020)
General election
Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Trevor Atkin and Jessica Peterson advanced from the primary for Nevada 8th Judicial District Court Department 8.
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jessica Peterson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Peterson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am a cum laude graduate of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. I have been practicing as a general practitioner for 20 years. I have represented Plaintiffs and Defendants, businesses and individuals. I have a proven track record for settling cases, because I have a vast knowledge in many areas of the law, am objective and have the ability to see both sides of a case Because of this I usually see where my opponent is going and can provide a quick resolution for my clients. I have effectively been serving as a Judge for the last four years through the Courts Arbitration Program. I am involved in my community having been a Member and Past President of the N. Las Vegas Rotary Club, a former Board Member for the Rape Crisis Center, a Truancy Diversion Judge, a supporter of Nevada Women in Trades, Vegas Masketeers (an organization making masks for the homeless in Nevada) and 100 Women Who Care. I am endorsed by the Nevada Veteran's Association, the Independent Black Voters, The Clark County Black Caucus, and The Spectrum. I am a hard worker, a quick learner, fair, impartial, objective, compassionate and knowledgeable and will bring a Balanced Approach to Justice.
- I am a hard worker, a quick learner, fair, impartial, objective, compassionate and knowledgeable and will bring a Balanced Approach to Justice.
- I am and have been and will continue to be involved in this community.
- 20 years of experience in all areas of the law from misdemeanor criminal to complex civil litigation and everything in between, you can count on that I will have the knowledge to make informed timely decisions.
My position is not a public policy position, but personally I believe that equal access to justice and protection for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault are important.
I look up to my mother who taught me the value of hard work, education, dreams and honesty.
Honesty, objectivity, impartiality, humility, compassion and empathy, and knowledge.
Honesty; empathy; ability to admit when I am wrong and apologize for it; and knowledge.
To insure that timely and well reasoned and understandable decisions are made, so that litigants and attorneys know how to proceed.
I would like to be known as a fair, well prepared, knowledgeable, understanding Judge who did not waste the time or valuable resources of the attorneys or litigants that came before her. That enforced the Rules of Professional Conduct, the Court Rules and the Law without bias or prejudice but based on the facts and the law. That helped establish programs that would provide for more equal access to justice and streamlined procedures for bail hearings.
My very first job was at the age of 14 bagging groceries in a local supermarket. I had it as a summer job and part time when I started high school until I got onto the swim team and training interfered with the hours I could work.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance because you can read it over and over and always get something new out of it. It makes you think about your life and your connection to others in the world and I believe we are all connected, so it speaks to me.
Wonder Woman, that truth lasso!
Don Henley Boys of Summer
My legal philosophy is to make sure that no decision is made without all of the facts and to make sure that the litigants and the attorneys understand how I arrived at my decision. I believe that many appeals happen not only because litigants and attorneys do not like the decision but they also do not understand how the decision was arrived at. I have in my Arbitration practice, made it a practice to make sure that I explain how I arrived at every decision along the way, from the parties credibility to the ultimate conclusion. This makes for a good record and oftentimes will completely avoid an appeal of the decision, which saves time and expense for the courts and the parties. I also believe a Judge needs to be patient and allow the parties their day in Court, sometimes people just want someone to listen and understand them, I will do that.
I admire Judge Timothy Williams for his patience and legal knowledge. I admire Judge Mark Denton for writing well researched, thoughtful and understandable Opinions and Orders. I admire Judge Gloria Sturman for providing attorneys and litigants with clear direction going forward.
Yes I believe that the ability to understand and share someone's feelings is important. I also believe that if you have not had a life with some struggles along the way that it is difficult to be empathetic. While I went straight from high school to college, I dropped out my first semester and did not go back for three years. During that time my parents told me you want to be an adult you are on your own, I worked multiple jobs had to pay my own way and at one point was living in my car. These experience help me relate to the struggles that an average person may face and is why I have been involved in community outreach for the homeless population.
No, I have not, I also have never sought it out.
My opponent was not elected to his position, rather he was appointed. I believe that the citizens of Clark County, Nevada have a right to choose whom they want to hold the position. I also believe that I have vastly more knowledge in multiple areas of the law than my opponent and am thus more qualified to hold the position.
If a Judge has prior experience in government or politics it helps them understand the three systems of governance and what their role is as a Judge.
Lack of equal access to justice.
To establish a specialty Court for bail detention hearings and allow pro bono hours for attorneys to be used for CLE credits. This would provide more attorneys the ability to represent lower income clients and thus provide more access to justice. These are two programs that I plan on trying to have implemented if I become Judge.
Undecided, let's get me elected to this Court and fulfill my duties to this Court first!
No as generally the attorneys ask their friends and colleagues to provide the surveys for them.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
External links
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 12, 2020
