Michele Fiore, the former Nye County judge appointed by county commissioners in late 2022, testified in her own defense Monday before the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline. She is appealing the commission's decision to suspend her after a federal jury found her guilty of wire fraud related to the misuse of funds raised for a statue honoring fallen Metro Police Officer Alyn Beck. Fiore said she raised more than $70,000 for the statue but spent the money on personal expenses, a claim she denied during testimony.
Fiore told the commission she never used any of the $70,000 for personal expenses and said she spent $50,000 of her own money to sponsor events while serving on the Las Vegas City Council. She lost her bid for re-election to the Nye County judgeship in the June 2026 state election primary, finishing third among three candidates. President Donald Trump pardoned Fiore in April 2025, which she said essentially undid the federal jury's findings of guilt.
Fiore described the prosecution as a 'fake case' and argued that because the jury's verdict was never officially entered into the court record, it does not exist. The commission had initially suspended her when she was indicted, then rescinded that suspension and unanimously voted to suspend her without pay after the conviction. Fiore appealed that decision, which led to Monday's hearing.
Reflecting on her time on the bench, Fiore said, 'Of all my elected positions, this was my favorite. The most I've ever done for anybody is helping them in their life and giving them a second chance. Never would I ever jeopardize my bench for some crap that I'm going through.' She blamed the commission for her defeat in the 2026 election, stating that because of the commission, her share of the popular vote was considerably less than in 2024, leading to her last-place finish. The commission's hearing is expected to conclude on Thursday.
Sources: 8 News Now
Original reporting: 8 News Now →
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