Most appellate cases
Nevada attorneys ranked by how many Supreme Court of Nevada cases they handled that were decided in 2021, 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 | 419 | 2021 | 85% won of 221 decided cases Won 187Mixed 11Lost 23 |
| 2 | Alexander G. ChenActiveClark County DA's Office | 234 | 2021 | 87% won of 135 decided cases Won 118Mixed 6Lost 11 |
| 3 | Jennifer P. NobleActiveWashoe Co. DA's Office | 57 | 2021 | 76% won of 25 decided cases Won 19Mixed 1Lost 5 |
| 4 | Ariel E. SternActive | 38 | 2021 | 87% won of 15 decided cases Won 13Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 5 | Steven Bryan WolfsonExempt ActiveClark County DA's Office | 34 | 2021 | 65% won of 23 decided cases Won 15Mixed 1Lost 7 |
| 6 | Rene Louis ValladaresActiveFederal Public Defender's Office | 29 | 2021 | 5% won of 22 decided cases Won 1Mixed 1Lost 20 |
| 7 | John Thomas AfsharActiveClark County DA's Office | 26 | 2021 | 75% won of 20 decided cases Won 15Mixed 1Lost 4 |
| 8 | Melanie D. MorganActiveAtlas Solomon LLP | 26 | 2021 | 90% won of 10 decided cases Won 9Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 9 | Daniel F. PolsenbergActiveWomble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP | 22 | 2021 | 8% won of 13 decided cases Won 1Mixed 3Lost 9 |
| 10 | Abraham G. SmithActiveHolland & Hart LLP | 20 | 2021 | 8% won of 13 decided cases Won 1Mixed 2Lost 10 |
| 11 | Jonathan VanBoskerckActive | 20 | 2021 | 68% won of 19 decided cases Won 13Mixed 2Lost 4 |
| 12 | Karen Lynn MishlerActiveClark County District Attorney | 18 | 2021 | 100% won of 15 decided cases Won 15Mixed 0Lost 0 |
| 13 | Roger P. CroteauActiveRoger P. Croteau & Associates, Ltd | 16 | 2021 | 18% won of 11 decided cases Won 2Mixed 0Lost 9 |
| 14 | Joel D. HenriodActiveHenriod Stern PLLC | 16 | 2021 | 0% won of 9 decided cases Won 0Mixed 2Lost 7 |
| 15 | Joseph Y. HongActiveHong & Hong, APLC | 16 | 2021 | 13% won of 8 decided cases Won 1Mixed 0Lost 7 |
| 16 | Taleen R Pandukht EsqActive | 15 | 2021 | 86% won of 14 decided cases Won 12Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 17 | John Reese PettyExempt Inactive | 15 | 2021 | 57% won of 7 decided cases Won 4Mixed 1Lost 2 |
| 18 | Michael K. WallDeceased | 15 | 2021 | 60% won of 10 decided cases Won 6Mixed 0Lost 4 |
| 19 | Micah S. EcholsActiveClaggett and Sykes Law Firm | 14 | 2021 | 13% won of 8 decided cases Won 1Mixed 1Lost 6 |
| 20 | Jordan T. SmithActiveBrownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP | 14 | 2021 | 57% won of 7 decided cases Won 4Mixed 1Lost 2 |
| 21 | Donna M. WittigActiveSparrow Financial, Inc. | 14 | 2021 | 100% won of 6 decided cases Won 6Mixed 0Lost 0 |
| 22 | Karen L. HanksActiveHanks Law Group | 13 | 2021 | 25% won of 4 decided cases Won 1Mixed 0Lost 3 |
| 23 | Frank A. Toddre IIActiveCozen O'Connor | 13 | 2021 | 100% won of 2 decided cases Won 2Mixed 0Lost 0 |
| 24 | Diana Samalaulu ClineActiveCline Legal Solutions LLC | 12 | 2021 | 0% won of 2 decided cases Won 0Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 25 | Kelly H. DoveActiveSnell & Wilmer | 12 | 2021 | 78% won of 9 decided cases Won 7Mixed 1Lost 1 |
| 26 | James J. PisanelliActivePisanelli Bice PLLC | 12 | 2021 | 83% won of 6 decided cases Won 5Mixed 1Lost 0 |
| 27 | Christopher L. BennerActivePyatt & Silvestri | 11 | 2021 | 0% won of 6 decided cases Won 0Mixed 0Lost 6 |
| 28 | Jacqueline A. GilbertExempt Inactive | 11 | 2021 | 0% won of 2 decided cases Won 0Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 29 | Debra L. SpinelliActivePisanelli Bice PLLC | 11 | 2021 | 100% won of 4 decided cases Won 4Mixed 0Lost 0 |
| 30 | Lilith Vala XaraActiveLitchfield Cavo, LLP | 11 | 2021 | 100% won of 5 decided cases Won 5Mixed 0Lost 0 |
| 31 | Karla Kay ButkoActiveKarla K. Butko, Ltd. | 10 | 2021 | 14% won of 7 decided cases Won 1Mixed 1Lost 5 |
| 32 | Robert L. EisenbergExempt ActiveLemons, Grundy & Eisenberg | 10 | 2021 | 50% won of 6 decided cases Won 3Mixed 1Lost 2 |
| 33 | Mark B. JacksonActiveDouglas County DA | 10 | 2021 | 86% won of 7 decided cases Won 6Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 34 | Scott R. LachmanActiveAkerman LLP | 10 | 2021 | 80% won of 5 decided cases Won 4Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 35 | Natalie Lynn WinslowActiveAtlas Solomon LLP | 10 | 2021 | 80% won of 5 decided cases Won 4Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 36 | Sean L. AndersonActiveWilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP | 9 | 2021 | 100% won of 8 decided cases Won 8Mixed 0Lost 0 |
| 37 | Howard S. BrooksInactiveLaw Office of Howard Brooks | 9 | 2021 | 57% won of 7 decided cases Won 4Mixed 0Lost 3 |
| 38 | Marilee CateActiveWashoe County DAs Office | 9 | 2021 | 71% won of 7 decided cases Won 5Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 39 | Tyler J. IngramActiveElko County District Attorney | 9 | 2021 | 83% won of 6 decided cases Won 5Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 40 | Andrew A. BaoActiveAndrew Bao & Associates | 8 | 2021 | 80% won of 5 decided cases Won 4Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 41 | Dylan T. CicilianoActiveGarman Turner Gordon LLP | 8 | 2021 | 50% won of 2 decided cases Won 1Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 42 | Jamie K. CombsActiveKlinedinst PC | 8 | 2021 | 67% won of 3 decided cases Won 2Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 43 | Leslie B HartActiveFennemore | 8 | 2021 | No decided cases |
| 44 | Kimball J. JonesActiveBighorn Law | 8 | 2021 | 60% won of 5 decided cases Won 3Mixed 1Lost 1 |
| 45 | Kevin P. NaughtonActiveWashoe County DA's Office | 8 | 2021 | 57% won of 7 decided cases Won 4Mixed 1Lost 2 |
| 46 | Erika Pike TurnerActiveGarman Turner Gordon | 8 | 2021 | 33% won of 3 decided cases Won 1Mixed 1Lost 1 |
| 47 | Emily Allen-Wiles BuchwaldActivePisanelli Bice | 7 | 2021 | 100% won of 3 decided cases Won 3Mixed 0Lost 0 |
| 48 | Kerry P. FaughnanActive | 7 | 2021 | 0% won of 5 decided cases Won 0Mixed 0Lost 5 |
| 49 | Joseph P. GarinActiveGarin Law Group | 7 | 2021 | 75% won of 4 decided cases Won 3Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 50 | Allison L. HerrActiveCannabis Compliance Board | 7 | 2021 | 50% won of 2 decided cases Won 1Mixed 1Lost 0 |
| 51 | Mark A. HutchisonActiveHutchison & Steffen, PLLC | 7 | 2021 | 50% won of 6 decided cases Won 3Mixed 1Lost 2 |
| 52 | Timothy Chase PittsenbargerActiveLee Kiefer & Park LLP | 7 | 2021 | 100% won of 6 decided cases Won 6Mixed 0Lost 0 |
| 53 | Kimberly Anne SandbergNMATTORNEY Cert FPD or US Atty 49.1(1)(g)Federal Public Defender | 7 | 2021 | 0% won of 7 decided cases Won 0Mixed 1Lost 6 |
| 54 | John Henry WrightActiveThe Wright Law Group, P.C. | 7 | 2021 | 33% won of 3 decided cases Won 1Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 55 | Christopher R. ArabiaActiveCity of Ely | 6 | 2021 | 75% won of 4 decided cases Won 3Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 56 | Todd L. BiceActivePisanelli Bice, LLC | 6 | 2021 | 50% won of 4 decided cases Won 2Mixed 1Lost 1 |
| 57 | Geordan M. GoebelActive | 6 | 2021 | 100% won of 1 decided case Won 1Mixed 0Lost 0 |
| 58 | Christopher J. HicksActive | 6 | 2021 | 60% won of 5 decided cases Won 3Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 59 | Rory T. KayActiveMcDonald Carano LLP | 6 | 2021 | 0% won of 2 decided cases Won 0Mixed 1Lost 1 |
| 60 | Dennis L. KennedyExempt ActiveBailey Kennedy, LLP | 6 | 2021 | 0% won of 4 decided cases Won 0Mixed 1Lost 3 |
| 61 | Jonathan M. KirshbaumNMATTORNEY Cert FPD or US Atty 49.1(1)(g)Federal PD's Office | 6 | 2021 | 0% won of 2 decided cases Won 0Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 62 | Christina V. MillerActiveWright, Finlay & Zak, LLP | 6 | 2021 | 67% won of 3 decided cases Won 2Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 63 | Christopher R. OramActive | 6 | 2021 | 17% won of 6 decided cases Won 1Mixed 1Lost 4 |
| 64 | Michael Frederick BohnActiveMichael F. Bohn, Esq., Ltd. | 5 | 2021 | 33% won of 3 decided cases Won 1Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 65 | Garrett Royal ChaseActiveVC2 Law | 5 | 2021 | 50% won of 4 decided cases Won 2Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 66 | Sean K. ClaggettActiveClaggett and Sykes Law Firm | 5 | 2021 | 50% won of 2 decided cases Won 1Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 67 | Karen Anne ConnollyActiveKaren A. Connolly, Ltd. | 5 | 2021 | 0% won of 2 decided cases Won 0Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 68 | Douglas D. GerrardActiveGerrard, Cox & Larsen | 5 | 2021 | 50% won of 2 decided cases Won 1Mixed 1Lost 0 |
| 69 | Joseph A. GutierrezActiveMaier Gutierrez & Associates | 5 | 2021 | 33% won of 3 decided cases Won 1Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 70 | David R. KochActiveKing Scow Koch Durham LLC | 5 | 2021 | 100% won of 4 decided cases Won 4Mixed 0Lost 0 |
| 71 | Brittany Maria LlewellynActiveWeinberg Wheeler Hudgins Gunn & Dial | 5 | 2021 | 25% won of 4 decided cases Won 1Mixed 0Lost 3 |
| 72 | Michael MacdonaldActiveLander County DA's Office | 5 | 2021 | 75% won of 4 decided cases Won 3Mixed 1Lost 0 |
| 73 | Robert C. McBrideActiveMcBride Hall | 5 | 2021 | 75% won of 4 decided cases Won 3Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 74 | Jeffrey D. OlsterActiveLewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP | 5 | 2021 | 75% won of 4 decided cases Won 3Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 75 | Brandon L. PhillipsActiveMartinez & Dieterich Legal Group | 5 | 2021 | 0% won of 3 decided cases Won 0Mixed 0Lost 3 |
| 76 | Jeffrey W. SaabActiveBremer Whyte Brown & O'Meara, LLP | 5 | 2021 | 33% won of 3 decided cases Won 1Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 77 | Steven G. ShevorskiActiveGreenberg Traurig LLP | 5 | 2021 | 100% won of 4 decided cases Won 4Mixed 0Lost 0 |
| 78 | JoNell ThomasActiveFederal Public Defender | 5 | 2021 | 0% won of 5 decided cases Won 0Mixed 1Lost 4 |
| 79 | Sheri M. ThomeActiveWilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP | 5 | 2021 | 50% won of 2 decided cases Won 1Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 80 | Adam R. TrippiediActiveTriLaw | 5 | 2021 | 50% won of 4 decided cases Won 2Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 81 | Kirk Darren VittoActivePahrump Justice Court | 5 | 2021 | 75% won of 4 decided cases Won 3Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 82 | Judge Deborah L. WestbrookActiveNevada Court of Appeals | 5 | 2021 | 67% won of 3 decided cases Won 2Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 83 | Kaleb D. AndersonActiveGarin Law Group | 4 | 2021 | 50% won of 2 decided cases Won 1Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 84 | John L ArrascadaActive | 4 | 2021 | 67% won of 3 decided cases Won 2Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 85 | Bradley T. AustinActiveSnell & Wilmer L.L.P. | 4 | 2021 | 100% won of 2 decided cases Won 2Mixed 0Lost 0 |
| 86 | Jeremy C. BaronNMATTORNEY Cert FPD or US Atty 49.1(1)(g)Federal Public Defender | 4 | 2021 | 0% won of 3 decided cases Won 0Mixed 0Lost 3 |
| 87 | Danielle Jena BarrazaActiveMaier Gutierrez & Associates | 4 | 2021 | 33% won of 3 decided cases Won 1Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 88 | James M. BarringtonActiveResnick & Louis | 4 | 2021 | 50% won of 2 decided cases Won 1Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 89 | Nicholas Ethan BelayActiveAkerman LLP | 4 | 2021 | 100% won of 2 decided cases Won 2Mixed 0Lost 0 |
| 90 | Kurt BondsActiveHall & Evans LLC | 4 | 2021 | 100% won of 2 decided cases Won 2Mixed 0Lost 0 |
| 91 | Ian Edward CarrActivePublic Emp Retirement System of NV | 4 | 2021 | 100% won of 2 decided cases Won 2Mixed 0Lost 0 |
| 92 | Riley A. ClaytonActiveCloward Trial Lawyers | 4 | 2021 | 50% won of 2 decided cases Won 1Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 93 | Benjamin P. ClowardActiveCloward Trial Lawyers | 4 | 2021 | 67% won of 3 decided cases Won 2Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 94 | Paul C. DeyhleActiveNevada Commission on Judicial Discipline | 4 | 2021 | No decided cases |
| 95 | Sharon Gerber DickinsonExempt Active | 4 | 2021 | 33% won of 3 decided cases Won 1Mixed 1Lost 1 |
| 96 | Maximilien D. FetazActiveBrownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP | 4 | 2021 | 67% won of 3 decided cases Won 2Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 97 | Rex D. GarnerActiveFox Rothschild LLP | 4 | 2021 | No decided cases |
| 98 | Michael J. GayanActiveClaggett & Sykes Law Firm | 4 | 2021 | 33% won of 3 decided cases Won 1Mixed 1Lost 1 |
| 99 | Marjorie L. HaufActiveH&P Law, PLLC | 4 | 2021 | 50% won of 2 decided cases Won 1Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 100 | Dustun H. HolmesActiveMcMenemy | Holmes PLLC | 4 | 2021 | 50% won of 2 decided cases Won 1Mixed 0Lost 1 |
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.