Most appellate cases
Nevada attorneys ranked by how many Supreme Court of Nevada, Court of Appeals of Nevada and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit cases they handled, with how those cases came out. This measures experience on the record, not quality.
| # | Attorney | Cases | Years | Results (won / mixed / lost) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Aaron D. FordActiveNevada Office of Attorney General | 5,729 | 2019-2026 | 90% won of 4328 decided cases Won 3898Mixed 160Lost 270 |
| 2 | Alexander G. ChenActiveClark County DA's Office | 2,943 | 2016-2026 | 90% won of 2273 decided cases Won 2041Mixed 92Lost 140 |
| 3 | Jennifer P. NobleActiveWashoe Co. DA's Office | 945 | 2014-2026 | 90% won of 759 decided cases Won 681Mixed 30Lost 48 |
| 4 | Shanon L. ClowersActiveClark County District Attorney's Office | 556 | 2020-2026 | 86% won of 390 decided cases Won 336Mixed 17Lost 37 |
| 5 | Steven Bryan WolfsonExempt ActiveClark County DA's Office | 365 | 2008-2026 | 64% won of 295 decided cases Won 188Mixed 25Lost 82 |
| 6 | John Thomas AfsharActiveClark County DA's Office | 308 | 2019-2026 | 87% won of 285 decided cases Won 248Mixed 18Lost 19 |
| 7 | Ariel E. SternActive | 303 | 2006-2026 | 80% won of 214 decided cases Won 171Mixed 11Lost 32 |
| 8 | Karen Lynn MishlerActiveClark County District Attorney | 225 | 2020-2026 | 87% won of 214 decided cases Won 186Mixed 8Lost 20 |
| 9 | Jonathan VanBoskerckActive | 224 | 2013-2025 | 84% won of 215 decided cases Won 180Mixed 14Lost 21 |
| 10 | Kevin P. NaughtonActiveWashoe County DA's Office | 218 | 2019-2026 | 89% won of 205 decided cases Won 183Mixed 12Lost 10 |
| 11 | Taleen R Pandukht EsqActive | 218 | 2007-2026 | 91% won of 205 decided cases Won 187Mixed 4Lost 14 |
| 12 | Joseph Y. HongActiveHong & Hong, APLC | 192 | 2019-2026 | 11% won of 139 decided cases Won 15Mixed 8Lost 116 |
| 13 | Daniel F. PolsenbergActiveWomble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP | 186 | 2002-2026 | 38% won of 132 decided cases Won 50Mixed 21Lost 61 |
| 14 | Marilee CateActiveWashoe County DAs Office | 182 | 2018-2026 | 87% won of 167 decided cases Won 146Mixed 7Lost 14 |
| 15 | Scott R. LachmanActiveAkerman LLP | 135 | 2019-2026 | 84% won of 101 decided cases Won 85Mixed 3Lost 13 |
| 16 | Adam P. LaxaltActiveCooper & Kirk PLLC | 135 | 2015-2020 | 59% won of 127 decided cases Won 75Mixed 10Lost 42 |
| 17 | John Reese PettyExempt Inactive | 135 | 2000-2024 | 15% won of 110 decided cases Won 17Mixed 7Lost 86 |
| 18 | Melanie D. MorganActiveAtlas Solomon LLP | 130 | 2016-2024 | 87% won of 94 decided cases Won 82Mixed 2Lost 10 |
| 19 | Micah S. EcholsActiveClaggett and Sykes Law Firm | 128 | 2009-2026 | 46% won of 83 decided cases Won 38Mixed 11Lost 34 |
| 20 | Tyler J. IngramActiveElko County District Attorney | 128 | 2018-2026 | 90% won of 112 decided cases Won 101Mixed 2Lost 9 |
| 21 | Christopher J. HicksActive | 125 | 2015-2026 | 64% won of 107 decided cases Won 69Mixed 5Lost 33 |
| 22 | Kathryn E. ReynoldsActiveWashoe County PD's Office | 125 | 2020-2026 | 7% won of 114 decided cases Won 8Mixed 8Lost 98 |
| 23 | Leslie B HartActiveFennemore | 112 | 2014-2026 | 50% won of 4 decided cases Won 2Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 24 | Abraham G. SmithActiveHolland & Hart LLP | 110 | 2018-2026 | 39% won of 75 decided cases Won 29Mixed 11Lost 35 |
| 25 | Rene Louis ValladaresActiveFederal Public Defender's Office | 105 | 2014-2026 | 7% won of 90 decided cases Won 6Mixed 2Lost 82 |
| 26 | Robert L. EisenbergExempt ActiveLemons, Grundy & Eisenberg | 102 | 2003-2026 | 42% won of 74 decided cases Won 31Mixed 17Lost 26 |
| 27 | Kelly H. DoveActiveSnell & Wilmer | 94 | 2012-2026 | 67% won of 54 decided cases Won 36Mixed 6Lost 12 |
| 28 | Natalie Lynn WinslowActiveAtlas Solomon LLP | 93 | 2014-2025 | 77% won of 64 decided cases Won 49Mixed 3Lost 12 |
| 29 | Daniel L SchwartzActiveHooks Meng & Clement | 92 | 2005-2026 | 38% won of 58 decided cases Won 22Mixed 2Lost 34 |
| 30 | Michael Frederick BohnActiveMichael F. Bohn, Esq., Ltd. | 91 | 2016-2025 | 18% won of 71 decided cases Won 13Mixed 3Lost 55 |
| 31 | Joel D. HenriodActiveHenriod Stern PLLC | 91 | 2005-2026 | 44% won of 62 decided cases Won 27Mixed 6Lost 29 |
| 32 | Karen L. HanksActiveHanks Law Group | 90 | 2010-2026 | 13% won of 54 decided cases Won 7Mixed 5Lost 42 |
| 33 | David J. J. RogerActive | 89 | 2004-2026 | 57% won of 82 decided cases Won 47Mixed 9Lost 26 |
| 34 | Roger P. CroteauActiveRoger P. Croteau & Associates, Ltd | 88 | 2012-2026 | 14% won of 49 decided cases Won 7Mixed 1Lost 41 |
| 35 | Emily M. McFarlingActiveMcFarling Cohen Fic & Squires | 86 | 2015-2026 | 29% won of 66 decided cases Won 19Mixed 19Lost 28 |
| 36 | Jaimie Ann StilzActive | 85 | 2016-2025 | 97% won of 67 decided cases Won 65Mixed 1Lost 1 |
| 37 | Karla Kay ButkoActiveKarla K. Butko, Ltd. | 84 | 2001-2026 | 13% won of 80 decided cases Won 10Mixed 4Lost 66 |
| 38 | Mark B. JacksonActiveDouglas County DA | 84 | 2013-2026 | 93% won of 57 decided cases Won 53Mixed 1Lost 3 |
| 39 | Judge Jason D. WoodburyActiveFirst Judicial District Court | 81 | 2009-2024 | 92% won of 60 decided cases Won 55Mixed 1Lost 4 |
| 40 | Christopher R. ArabiaActiveCity of Ely | 79 | 2015-2026 | 86% won of 65 decided cases Won 56Mixed 3Lost 6 |
| 41 | Kirk Darren VittoActivePahrump Justice Court | 73 | 2019-2024 | 90% won of 61 decided cases Won 55Mixed 3Lost 3 |
| 42 | Darren T. BrennerActiveKlinedinst PC | 72 | 2017-2024 | 78% won of 51 decided cases Won 40Mixed 2Lost 9 |
| 43 | Joseph P. GarinActiveGarin Law Group | 72 | 2017-2026 | 70% won of 40 decided cases Won 28Mixed 1Lost 11 |
| 44 | Steven S OwensActiveSteven S Owens, LLC | 72 | 2005-2026 | 43% won of 68 decided cases Won 29Mixed 5Lost 34 |
| 45 | Stephen B. RyeActiveLyon County District Attorney's Office | 71 | 2018-2026 | 96% won of 57 decided cases Won 55Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 46 | Jacqueline A. GilbertExempt Inactive | 69 | 2011-2022 | 14% won of 44 decided cases Won 6Mixed 4Lost 34 |
| 47 | Brian T. KunziActiveNye County DA's Office | 67 | 2001-2026 | 82% won of 45 decided cases Won 37Mixed 4Lost 4 |
| 48 | Donna M. WittigActiveSparrow Financial, Inc. | 67 | 2020-2025 | 94% won of 50 decided cases Won 47Mixed 1Lost 2 |
| 49 | Katheryn A. B. HickmanActiveAlternate Public Defender's Office | 66 | 2020-2026 | 9% won of 57 decided cases Won 5Mixed 1Lost 51 |
| 50 | Jordan T. SmithActiveBrownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP | 66 | 2014-2026 | 43% won of 37 decided cases Won 16Mixed 3Lost 18 |
| 51 | Thomas L. QuallsActiveWashoe County Alternate PD | 65 | 2009-2026 | 3% won of 58 decided cases Won 2Mixed 0Lost 56 |
| 52 | Christina V. MillerActiveWright, Finlay & Zak, LLP | 64 | 2020-2026 | 79% won of 42 decided cases Won 33Mixed 1Lost 8 |
| 53 | Christopher R. OramActive | 64 | 2006-2026 | 8% won of 60 decided cases Won 5Mixed 3Lost 52 |
| 54 | David Paul SnyderActiveClaggett & Sykes | 63 | 2021-2026 | 58% won of 43 decided cases Won 25Mixed 4Lost 14 |
| 55 | Nicholas Ethan BelayActiveAkerman LLP | 62 | 2020-2026 | 78% won of 41 decided cases Won 32Mixed 4Lost 5 |
| 56 | Howard S. BrooksInactiveLaw Office of Howard Brooks | 61 | 2007-2022 | 28% won of 58 decided cases Won 16Mixed 3Lost 39 |
| 57 | Rex D. GarnerActiveFox Rothschild LLP | 61 | 2015-2026 | 82% won of 50 decided cases Won 41Mixed 2Lost 7 |
| 58 | JoNell ThomasActiveFederal Public Defender | 61 | 2000-2025 | 19% won of 54 decided cases Won 10Mixed 5Lost 39 |
| 59 | Bradley S. SchragerActiveBravo Schrager LLP | 59 | 2009-2026 | 53% won of 40 decided cases Won 21Mixed 3Lost 16 |
| 60 | Marshal WillickActiveWillick Law Group | 59 | 2005-2026 | 43% won of 46 decided cases Won 20Mixed 9Lost 17 |
| 61 | Diana Samalaulu ClineActiveCline Legal Solutions LLC | 58 | 2019-2026 | 9% won of 35 decided cases Won 3Mixed 3Lost 29 |
| 62 | John D. Tennert IIIActiveFennemore Craig, P.C. | 58 | 2017-2026 | 43% won of 7 decided cases Won 3Mixed 1Lost 3 |
| 63 | Michael K. WallDeceased | 58 | 2006-2024 | 41% won of 41 decided cases Won 17Mixed 3Lost 21 |
| 64 | Darin F. ImlayActive | 57 | 2001-2026 | 31% won of 52 decided cases Won 16Mixed 4Lost 32 |
| 65 | William M. WatersActiveClark County PD's Office | 57 | 2013-2026 | 11% won of 53 decided cases Won 6Mixed 8Lost 39 |
| 66 | Lilith Vala XaraActiveLitchfield Cavo, LLP | 57 | 2019-2024 | 84% won of 37 decided cases Won 31Mixed 2Lost 4 |
| 67 | Kimball J. JonesActiveBighorn Law | 56 | 2020-2026 | 54% won of 39 decided cases Won 21Mixed 8Lost 10 |
| 68 | Adam R. TrippiediActiveTriLaw | 56 | 2019-2026 | 20% won of 45 decided cases Won 9Mixed 0Lost 36 |
| 69 | Sean L. AndersonActiveWilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP | 55 | 2020-2025 | 74% won of 39 decided cases Won 29Mixed 6Lost 4 |
| 70 | Michael MacdonaldActiveLander County DA's Office | 55 | 2020-2024 | 93% won of 43 decided cases Won 40Mixed 2Lost 1 |
| 71 | Daniel MarksExempt ActiveLaw Office of Daniel Marks, Ltd. | 55 | 2011-2026 | 40% won of 45 decided cases Won 18Mixed 4Lost 23 |
| 72 | Robert C. McBrideActiveMcBride Hall | 54 | 2010-2026 | 43% won of 40 decided cases Won 17Mixed 5Lost 18 |
| 73 | Victoria T. OldenburgActiveVictoria Oldenburg, Esq. | 54 | 2009-2025 | 4% won of 50 decided cases Won 2Mixed 1Lost 47 |
| 74 | Nancy L. LemckeActive | 53 | 2008-2026 | 17% won of 46 decided cases Won 8Mixed 6Lost 32 |
| 75 | Katrina Ann LopezActiveOffice of the Nevada Attorney General | 53 | 2019-2026 | 96% won of 45 decided cases Won 43Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 76 | Frank A. Toddre IIActiveCozen O'Connor | 53 | 2019-2026 | 74% won of 31 decided cases Won 23Mixed 3Lost 5 |
| 77 | Margaret A. McLetchieActiveMcLetchie Law | 52 | 2010-2026 | 46% won of 26 decided cases Won 12Mixed 7Lost 7 |
| 78 | Todd L. BiceActivePisanelli Bice, LLC | 51 | 2001-2026 | 55% won of 33 decided cases Won 18Mixed 2Lost 13 |
| 79 | Michael J. BongardActiveOffice of the Attorney General | 49 | 2014-2026 | 94% won of 36 decided cases Won 34Mixed 1Lost 1 |
| 80 | Philip Jay KohnExempt Inactive | 49 | 2005-2021 | 30% won of 47 decided cases Won 14Mixed 5Lost 28 |
| 81 | Christopher L. BennerActivePyatt & Silvestri | 48 | 2019-2024 | 19% won of 26 decided cases Won 5Mixed 0Lost 21 |
| 82 | Ian E. SilverbergActive | 48 | 2021-2025 | 11% won of 44 decided cases Won 5Mixed 0Lost 39 |
| 83 | Dennis L. KennedyExempt ActiveBailey Kennedy, LLP | 47 | 2000-2026 | 35% won of 31 decided cases Won 11Mixed 7Lost 13 |
| 84 | Matthew J. StermitzActiveMatt Stermitz Law, LLC | 46 | 2002-2026 | 5% won of 41 decided cases Won 2Mixed 1Lost 38 |
| 85 | Allison L. HerrActiveCannabis Compliance Board | 45 | 2019-2022 | 89% won of 35 decided cases Won 31Mixed 3Lost 1 |
| 86 | Lisa M AndersonActiveGGRM Law Firm | 44 | 2020-2026 | 75% won of 28 decided cases Won 21Mixed 0Lost 7 |
| 87 | Joseph C. ReynoldsActiveHutchison & Steffen, PLLC | 44 | 2020-2026 | 55% won of 29 decided cases Won 16Mixed 2Lost 11 |
| 88 | Sean K. ClaggettActiveClaggett and Sykes Law Firm | 43 | 2020-2026 | 60% won of 30 decided cases Won 18Mixed 0Lost 12 |
| 89 | Charles Lawrence FinlaysonActiveClaggett & Sykes | 43 | 2020-2026 | 60% won of 30 decided cases Won 18Mixed 3Lost 9 |
| 90 | James I HoffmanActiveLaw Office of Jim Hoffman | 43 | 2020-2026 | 6% won of 35 decided cases Won 2Mixed 4Lost 29 |
| 91 | Bruce I. ShapiroActivePecos Law Group | 43 | 2002-2026 | 50% won of 30 decided cases Won 15Mixed 6Lost 9 |
| 92 | Jamie K. CombsActiveKlinedinst PC | 42 | 2019-2021 | 77% won of 35 decided cases Won 27Mixed 3Lost 5 |
| 93 | Chris W. DavisActiveOffice of the Nevada Attorney General | 42 | 2011-2026 | 67% won of 27 decided cases Won 18Mixed 6Lost 3 |
| 94 | Evelyn A. GrosenickActiveWashoe County PD's Office | 42 | 2016-2026 | 13% won of 38 decided cases Won 5Mixed 4Lost 29 |
| 95 | Erica P. RothActiveWashoe County Public Defender | 42 | 2024-2026 | 0% won of 39 decided cases Won 0Mixed 2Lost 37 |
| 96 | Amanda C. SageActiveWashoe County DA's Office | 42 | 2016-2026 | 95% won of 40 decided cases Won 38Mixed 1Lost 1 |
| 97 | Ann Marie DunnActiveClark County DA's Office | 41 | 2024-2026 | 86% won of 36 decided cases Won 31Mixed 5Lost 0 |
| 98 | Mark E. FerrarioActiveGreenberg Traurig, LLP | 41 | 2009-2026 | 69% won of 29 decided cases Won 20Mixed 1Lost 8 |
| 99 | Craig A. MuellerActiveCraig Mueller & Associates | 41 | 2016-2026 | 12% won of 25 decided cases Won 3Mixed 0Lost 22 |
| 100 | Marc P. PickerActiveMarc Picker Law | 41 | 2020-2026 | 8% won of 37 decided cases Won 3Mixed 0Lost 34 |
How these numbers are computed
Where the data comes from. Published decisions and unpublished dispositional orders of the Supreme Court of Nevada and Court of Appeals of Nevada, with each case's parties and their lawyers taken from the courts' public case records. We match lawyer names to the bar roll and only count confident matches. Case data via YourNevadaJudges.com. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit cases come from the public RECAP Archive on CourtListener (Free Law Project) and cover only the Nevada-origin dockets already in that archive, so the federal count is partial.
Cases counts each case once, no matter how many filings it had. Heads of government law offices (district attorneys, the attorney general, public defenders) are listed on every case their office handles, which is why they lead the table.
Results. Won means the court ruled the way that lawyer's side asked. Mixed means the court agreed in part. The percentage is won divided by all decided cases (won, mixed, and lost). Cases that were dismissed for procedural reasons, or where we could not determine the result, are not counted.
Read the percentage with care. Appellate courts uphold far more rulings than they overturn. A lawyer who mostly defends rulings will naturally show a higher won-share than one who mostly challenges them, and prosecutors mostly defend. Hover over a Results cell for the split between challenging and defending. Coverage of unpublished orders is still being extended, so counts for some lawyers will grow.
Firm view credits a case to the firm where the lawyer works today, even if the lawyer was elsewhere when the case was decided.