Candidates vie for Family Court judge seats

In Department P, incumbent Judge Mary Perry held a narrow lead over attorney Jennifer Isso with 52.9% of early votes. Both candidates faced professional discipline: Perry was publicly censured by the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline and received the second-lowest retention score in the Review-Journal's 2025 evaluation, with just 35.1% of surveyed attorneys supporting her return. Isso received a stayed suspension of her law license in April and was ordered to undergo training for substance abuse and mental health issues. Both have been criticized for courtroom behavior, including shouting during hearings.

In Department R, attorney Marilyn Caston led incumbent Judge Bill Henderson with 60.33% of early votes. Henderson, first elected in 2008, presided over the custody case involving Dylan Houston and Ashley Prince that ended in a 2024 law office shooting where Houston's father, attorney Joseph Houston, killed the Princes and himself. Henderson's retention rating dropped 22 percentage points to 50.5% following the tragedy. Half of 107 attorneys in the Review-Journal poll said he should be retained, and appellate courts found error in 50% of 38 appeals of his rulings.

Other races showed incumbents faring better. In Department E, Judge Charles Hoskin, on the bench since 2009, led challenger Timothy Treffinger with 70.26%. For the open Department D seat, chief deputy district attorney Gwynneth Smith led attorney Patricia Marr with 56.8%. In Department S, attorney Kristine Brewer led Hearing Master Randall Forman with 54.3% for the seat vacated by retirement.

Department N candidate Paul Michel Gaudet drew attention by listing his middle name "Michel" on the ballot, suggesting an attempt to gain an advantage female candidates often see in Clark County judicial races. Gaudet previously lost to incumbent Judge Kerri Maxey in 2024. Many Family Court candidates ran unopposed, similar to District Court races.

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nevada Current