Sara Dayani

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

Sara Dayani

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Law

William S. Boyd School of Law

Sara Dayani ran for election for the Department P judge of the Nevada 8th Judicial District Court Family Division. She lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

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

Biography

Sara Dayani obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a J.D. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, William S. Boyd School of Law.

Elections

2020

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

General election

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

Mary Perry defeated Sara Dayani in the general election for Nevada 8th Judicial District Court Family Division Department P on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mary Perry (Nonpartisan)	53.6	389,409
		Sara Dayani (Nonpartisan)	46.4	336,924

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 726,333
= 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 P

Mary Perry and Sara Dayani defeated Fred Page in the primary for Nevada 8th Judicial District Court Family Division Department P on June 9, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mary Perry (Nonpartisan)	45.8	121,808
✔		Sara Dayani (Nonpartisan)	38.0	101,164
	Submit photo	Fred Page (Nonpartisan)	16.2	43,064

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 266,036
= 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

Sara Dayani completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Dayani'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.

For twelve years, Sara Dayani has worked within the Clark County Family Court system. She obtained her Juris Doctorate from the William S. Boyd School of Law and she is well versed in family law, the court process, and the rules of evidence.

In 2009, Sara was one of four members of the legal community that helped create the UNLV Mediation Clinic. Within this program, law students help mediate family court cases. That program has continued to thrive since its inception and Sara is proud of her contribution to the Southern Nevada community. Sara served as a Truancy Diversion Court Judge for two terms. She was selected to serve as a member of the Truancy Summit Committee, devoted to combating truancy and increasing high school graduation rates. Sara completed extensive research regarding truancy in our community. This research directly led towards a federal grant of $600,000 to combat truancy in Southern Nevada. The research also created legislative changes. Since 2018 she has served as a panel member for the Nevada Family Law Conference. To date, Sara has received several notable endorsements: (1) The Clark County Firefighters IAFF Local 1908 and (2) Southern Nevada Central Labor Council (CLC, AFL-CIO) and (3) The Culinary Union.

Having moved to Las Vegas when she was two years old, Sara has completed all of her education in Southern Nevada. She is a wife and mother to two wonderful children.

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?

• I am committed to helping families in Southern Nevada.
• I am well versed in family law.
• I have strong ties to Southern Nevada and I care about our community.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Access to justice is an area of public policy that I am passionate about. In a family court over 70% of the litigants who appear before a judge are unrepresented. Navigating the court system is a challenge for many people. I would like to see more mediation programs to assist these individuals as not all family court cases should result in a trial. Several years ago I helped start the UNLV mediation clinic that assist people by sending them to mediation. I would like to see the creation of more programs like it.

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

The person I looked up to the most is my mother. She always worked hard and had a smile on her face. She never speaks badly about anyone and she always does what is right.

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

9/11. I was 19 years old.

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

Baskin Robbins

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

I believe that people should be aware of all powers and responsibilities of a judge. Judges must follow judicial cannons that can be found on the Nevada Code of Judicial Conduct.

How would you describe your legal philosophy?

My legal philosophy would invoke patience, consistency, and proper application of the law. Proper and consistent application of the rules is the only way to maintain fairness and impartiality in the courtroom. I also believe in courtroom efficiency and proper case management so that cases can be guided to a proper outcome, without unnecessary delay.

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

Judge Gloria O'Maley, Judge Charles J. Hoskin, a judge Jennifer Elliott and Judge Bryce Duckworth.

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

Yes. I believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge.

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

The current judge in department P is retiring. Therefore this seat is a vacant seat. I have over 12 years of experience within Family Court. I have worked on all types of case files that would appear in front of the judge assigned department P. I am well-versed in family law and the court process. My education, experience, and training make me a qualified candidate to hold this position.

Additionally, I am passionate about Family Court and the decisions that are made within these cases on a daily basis. I understand that these decisions affect the lives of children and should not be taken lightly. Litigants should have their voices heard in a fair manner. I will bring impartiality, fairness, knowledge and the proper temperament to the courtroom.

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

I believe that any experience is beneficial for a judge. However I believe that experience within family law and the court system is more beneficial than experience with government or politics. This is a non-partisan seat.

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

My primary concern about the legal system here in Clark County Nevada, as it pertains to the family division is the lack of consistency.

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

I am committed to serving as a Family Court Judge. Currently I have no aspirations of serving on a higher court.

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

2020 Elections

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External links

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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