Judge Joanna Kishner faces attorney Alexandra Beth McLeod in race for Clark County District Court Department 31

What happened

Clark County District Judge Joanna Kishner is seeking a third term in Department 31 and faces a challenge from attorney Alexandra Beth McLeod, the Nevada Current reported. Kishner is among roughly one-third of Eighth District incumbents who drew opponents this election year. Department 31 was once a business court and now hears civil matters, according to the Current.

Why the challenger says she is running

A survey at the center of the race

McLeod told the Current she chose to run against Kishner because the judge is among the lowest-rated in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Judging the Judges survey. Of the 232 attorneys who evaluated Kishner, 46.6% said she should be retained. Her highest score was for integrity and her lowest was for legal ability.

Citing comments from that evaluation, McLeod said attorneys appearing before Kishner do not feel respected as professionals. "I would bring courtesy back to the courtroom," she told the Current. She said proceedings in the court "have gotten a little stale" and that it is time for change, while commending Kishner for her service.

McLeod's background and views on AI

McLeod is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law and has been a member of the Nevada Bar since 2002. This is her third run for the bench, after losses in 2020 and 2024. She has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in civil cases.

She said the growing use of artificial intelligence in litigation can be confusing, from clients who expect a big judgment after consulting ChatGPT to clients who object to being billed for hours of work AI does in minutes. She described her approach as nuanced: the outcome would be the same for a lawyer or a self-represented litigant who makes the same mistake, but a licensed attorney would face a heavier penalty that includes a referral to the bar.

How the incumbent responds

Questions about the survey

Kishner told the Current she does not put much stock in the survey. She noted that attorneys at the firms listed as supporters on her website outnumber those who completed the evaluation, and said she has never asked anyone to fill it out. She suggested certain people might choose to take part in an election year.

"Some people don't like the fact that I explain my rulings," Kishner told the Current. She said explaining her decisions matters so people know a ruling is well reasoned.

Social media cases

Kishner said she handles almost all of the cases in which the State of Nevada has sued social media companies. Those include Attorney General Aaron Ford's case against Meta, which, along with other state actions, led to a national settlement of as much as $17.1 billion and a Meta pledge to add child-safety features. Ford says Nevada is guaranteed to receive more than $178 million.

In the state's consumer protection case against TikTok, Kishner said attorneys from around the country challenged having the case handled in Nevada, and she wrote a long decision on TikTok's motion to dismiss. The Nevada Supreme Court affirmed that decision, allowing the state to proceed to trial, according to the Current. The Current also reported that of 155 civil appeals, Kishner has been found in error in 50.

Endorsements and money

Kishner is endorsed by dozens of law enforcement organizations and by labor unions including the Culinary and Bartenders unions, the Current reported. Her list also includes the left-leaning Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, the Republican-funded Third Branch PAC, the Latin Chamber of Commerce and the National Organization of Women, among others.

As of July, Kishner had raised $487,000 and had $452,000 in the bank. McLeod has raised just under $48,000, including $30,000 in in-kind donations, and reports $42,000 on hand. Her website does not list any endorsements, according to the Current.

Voters looking for deadlines and ballot options can check our Clark County voting guide and more election coverage.

What to watch next

• The Department 31 contest between Kishner and McLeod on this year's ballot.
• Results for the roughly one-third of Eighth District incumbents who drew challengers this year.
• The State of Nevada's consumer protection case against TikTok, which the Nevada Supreme Court's ruling allowed to proceed to trial.