Rica Andrade

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Rica Andrade

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 9, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

University of California, Los Angeles, 1997

Law

University of Nevada William S. Boyd School of Law, 2007

Personal

Religion

Christian: Catholic

Profession

Attorney

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Rica Andrade ran for election for the Department Y judge of the Nevada 8th Judicial District Court Family Division. She lost in the primary on June 9, 2020.

Andrade completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Rica Andrade earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1997 and a J.D. from the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law in 2007. Her career experience includes working as an attorney, judge pro tem, and elementary school teacher.

Elections

2020

See also: Municipal elections in Clark County, Nevada (2020)

General election

General election for Nevada 8th Judicial District Court Family Division Department Y

Stephanie Charter won election in the general election for Nevada 8th Judicial District Court Family Division Department Y on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Stephanie Charter (Nonpartisan)	100.0	622,718

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 622,718
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Nevada 8th Judicial District Court Family Division Department Y

Stephanie Charter defeated Kari Molnar and Rica Andrade in the primary for Nevada 8th Judicial District Court Family Division Department Y on June 9, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Stephanie Charter (Nonpartisan)	51.7	134,772
	Submit photo	Kari Molnar (Nonpartisan)	24.7	64,537
		Rica Andrade (Nonpartisan)	23.6	61,602

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 260,911
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Rica Andrade completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Andrade's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Maricar "Rica" Andrade is a seasoned attorney who aims to bring diversity to the bench. She has been a Judicial Pro Tem Hearing Master for protection orders since 2014.

Rica immigrated to the United States when she was six years old. She is trilingual - fluent in Tagalog, Spanish, and English. She graduated from UCLA and became an elementary school teacher, spending countless hours working directly with children. Later, she attended UNLV's William S. Boyd School of Law. Rica helped students with disabilities and children in the foster system through the Child Welfare/Education Clinic. She was an extern for a judge at family court and an extern at Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada where she was awarded a $10,000 scholarship.

Rica is co-founder of a nonprofit organization called Bamboo Bridges, whose mission is to bring culturally relevant services to Asian American women and their families through high school leadership symposiums, domestic violence/sexual assault advocacy services, and coalition building.

Rica opened up her own law firm with her husband. For more than a decade, they have devoted their practice to family law matters. Rica has raised three of her own children and is an avid dancer whose videos are widely watched.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Maricar "Rica" Andrade brings diversity to the bench.
• Maricar "Rica" Andrade is experienced and skilled.
• Maricar "Rica" Andrade is relatable and trustworthy.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Maricar "Rica" Andrade is passionate about diversity and inclusion. While nearly half of the family court judges in Clark County, Nevada are women, the judicial bench remains predominantly white and does not reflect the ethnically diverse community that it serves. 

We need to increase public trust and access to justice. Family Court judges decide important custody issues such as visitation and what would be in the best interests of the children. They make rulings about fair, equitable divisions of assets and debts. Their decisions have a strong impact on the individuals that come before them. This is why we need judges who reflect the rich diversity of the families that appear in their courtrooms. Maricar "Rica" Andrade's diverse perspectives, background, and experiences make her receptive and responsive to the concerns and issues faced by the parties who come in front of her. She has dedicated her professional career to the area of family law and understands different cultural and family dynamics.

The majority of Clark County residents comes from minority backgrounds.  As voters, we cannot remain complacent with the status quo where minorities are woefully underrepresented in our local judicial system. Rica is the judge you want.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to the talented dancers, artists, and creators in Las Vegas. They radiate persistence, positivity, and dedication. They constantly work on their craft and inspire others along the way. We should follow their example of creating an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming community.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

"To Kill a Mockingbird" book by Harper Lee, "To Kill a Mockingbird" movie starring Gregory Peck, and the film "Twelve Angry Men"

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Elected officials should represent the public at large. The people at large should be able to relate to elected officials. Elected officials should not comprise simply of those who have big pockets or who have a network of friends with big pockets. Having big signs on the roads or spending a lot of money to go to events and pay for advertising does not make a better judge.

Elected officials should be compassionate and understanding. They should be inclusive and receptive to different ideas, cultures, and concerns. They should strive to be excellent. They should be smart, open-minded, and be able to relate to and be relatable to the public that they serve.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am keen, impartial, relatable, even-tempered, experienced, skilled, compassionate, understanding, empathetic, and patient. I am respectful and respected. I am admirable, rational, reasonable, and personable.

I am inclusive and receptive to different ideas, cultures, and concerns. I am dedicated, smart, and open-minded. I am analytical. I am a good listener. I am versed in different communication styles. I am trilingual, fluent in English, Spanish, and Tagalog. I have extensive training in domestic violence dynamics and victim advocacy. I am culturally-sensitive and competent. Over the last six years, I have served the public at family court as a Pro Tem Hearing Master for protection orders. I have excellent courtroom-management skills and a good demeanor.

My professional passion has always been in family law. I have more than a decade of experience in private practice as an attorney handling family law cases from beginning to end, including post-decree matters. I have presided over thousands of cases and inspire confidence in the judicial system.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities for a family court judge are to weigh the evidence before her, apply the law, and make fair, balanced, and unbiased rulings.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like people to be able to tell fond stories of me having made a positive impact in people's lives.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

One of the first historical events that happened in my lifetime was the Los Angeles riots. I was in high school at the time and living in downtown Los Angeles. It was a scary time filled with violence, looting, fires, and panic. Having survived that event has made me resilient and ever-confident that tough times will pass.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was an elementary school teacher for seven years. In that time, I was a mentor teacher and certified with A-level fluency in Spanish. I was also the supervising teacher for the after school program at the public school where I taught.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite book is Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. The book gives me a calming perspective on how to approach life. There are things within our control and things outside of our control. We should focus on the things that we can control. The writing is simple and straightforward and contains many inspiring messages. Mediations is philosophical and rational.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Wonder Woman

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I've had several struggles in my life. I grew up in a poor, violent, and gang infested neighborhood. As a young adult, I struggled with my identity as an Asian American woman because there weren't many positive role models who looked like me in the media or in academia. I faced racism and discrimination. I went through a difficult divorce and later, a taxing custody battle. Throughout it all, I persevered. I am grateful for where I am in my life today. I am happy, successful, and loved. I've found passions and pursue them. I find fulfillment in helping others overcome their own struggles.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Family court judges have strong influences over people's lives and families. If the community continues to elect judges who are representative of only a certain group or who belong to a certain class, this can have long-standing effects on its citizens. In order to have decision-making power and make real change, we need to elect people who we believe will bring our voices, concerns, and issues forward. Rich, affluent people can afford to litigate their family court cases and are in a better position than their counterparts. It is important to elect people who come from the communities that they serve because they have a true understanding of common struggles.

How would you describe your legal philosophy?

My legal philosophy is that judges should be fair, culturally-competent, and representative of the different communities that they serve. Family court judges should have ongoing training on domestic violence, cultural-competency, and unconscious bias. Stereotypes, discrimination, and bias are a reality. Many factors can influence outcomes in court, including perceptions. Therefore, it's important for our legal system to have judges with different perspectives, cultures, and backgrounds. The lack of racial and ethnic diversity amongst judges is a taint on the appearance of fairness in the legal system.

Is there a particular judge, past or present, whom you admire?

I admire Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the United States Supreme Court. She faced adversity throughout her life and persevered past them. She grew up in a low-income, working class neighborhood; so did I. She stands up for what she believes in and argued for gender equality. I, too, fight for what I believe in, which is one reason I co-founded a nonprofit organization called Bamboo Bridges. Their mission is to help victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and offer culturally-relevant services to Asian Pacific American women and their families.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg presents a strong voice for workers' rights. Similarly, I've been endorsed by several large unions - SEIU Local 1107, IBEW Local 357, SMART Local 88, and the Southern Nevada Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO. Their members believe that I understand and support the needs of working families.

Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?

Yes, I believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge. Culture and social structures greatly impact family dynamics. Many decisions in family court cases turn on the discretion of a judge. Similar experiences can create a real understanding of what another person is going through. As opposed to sympathy, where one merely imagines what something is like, empathy is actual awareness and understanding of other people's circumstances.

Have you ever been rated by a Bar Association? If so, what was the rating?

No.

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

Department Y is one of six new judicial seats in Clark County. I am running for this seat because I chose not to run against an incumbent. I also wanted to increase diversity (including ethnic diversity) on the bench, so I chose not to run against another minority. I am running for this seat because I am highly qualified: I have been practicing family law for 12 years, and I have been a judicial officer at family court during the last six years as a Pro Tem Hearing Master.

I enjoy making a positive impact in our community by making fair rulings and instilling confidence in the judicial system. Many colleagues, court clerks, court marshals, friends, attorneys, nonprofit leaders, and community members have expressed to me that they would like to see me become a district court judge because of my temperament, personality, and authenticity. I'm running to become Family Court Judge for Department Y because I am dedicated to improving the place where I live and where I have raised all three of my children for the last 17 consecutive years. I am hopeful that I can bring about positive change in our legal system.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for a judge to have previous experience in government or politics?

No.

What is your primary concern about today's legal system in your state?

I am concerned that many judicial candidates spend an exorbitant amount of money on judicial races. Apparently, there is a lot of money to be made from judges running a campaign. I am concerned that this escalation of costs only further increases the disparity between the rich and poor. Some candidates have the financial means to spend thousands of dollars each month on their campaign managers, to give money to certain groups, and to pay people for their big signs - whereas other candidates do not. The pressure to raise large sums of money to run campaigns in judicial elections establishes a system designed to keep non-wealthy individuals from becoming judges. This further increases the appearance of unfairness in our legal system. This is a tragedy when most litigants in family court cannot even afford to have an attorney. Their cases rest on the discretion of judges who may be too far removed from understanding the realities of the people that come into their courtrooms.

What do you consider the greatest opportunity for the legal system in your state?

According to the American Bar Association (ABA), the legal profession remains one of the least diverse of any profession. While the percentage of women in the legal profession is increasing, racial and ethnic diversity remain awfully low. According to the ABA's 2017 National Lawyer Population Survey, 5% of active attorneys identified as Black or African American, 5% identified as Hispanic or Latino, 2% identified as Asian, and around 1% identified as Native American.

The greatest opportunity for the legal system in Nevada is to increase these numbers and make the legal community more diverse. We should work to increase the diversity in our state's one and only law school, UNLV's William S. Boyd School of law, and actively increase diversity on our judicial bench.

I, Maricar "Rica" Andrade, am here as a judicial candidate to be a part of this great opportunity for change. I bring diversity to the bench. I am Filipino-American and my American children are multi-ethnic. They are of Hispanic/Latino, Filipino, German, Irish, British, and Asian descent.

Would you be interested in serving on a higher court in the future? If so, which court appeals to you?

If the opportunity presents itself to serve on a higher court in the future, I may consider it.

Do you believe that Bar Association ratings are an accurate reflection of a judge’s ability?

Bar Association ratings can be an accurate reflection of a judge's ability, depending on factors such as how the ratings are collected and how many people actually participate in the ratings.

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.

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Footnotes

Nevada courts

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Federal courts:

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Nevada • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Nevada

State courts:

Nevada Supreme Court • Nevada Court of Appeals • Nevada District Courts • Nevada Justice Courts • Nevada Municipal Courts • Clark County Family Court, Nevada

State resources:

Courts in Nevada • Nevada judicial elections • Judicial selection in Nevada