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JUDGE STEFANY MILEY
Personal Background: Stephany Miley was born and raised in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M University majoring in Journalism and Marketing. At Texas A&M, she was a member of Kappa Tau Alpha, the National Journalism Honor Society. Following college graduation in 1993, Miley attended California Western School of Law, graduating in just two years with Honors Distinctions. In 1995, she moved to Las Vegas to clerk for Judge Nancy C. Oesterle and in 1996, she passed the Nevada bar the first time and began her legal practice. Miley is currently licensed to practice in the state and federal courts in Nevada. When not at work, she spends time with her husband and three kids. Also, she often spends free time volunteering with local charities including HELP of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas Rescue Mission, and various community outreach programs through Shadow Hills Church. She also helped to author the Safe Haven for Babies Legislation. Professional History: Following high school graduation, Miley developed a love of the law while working for the Texas State Senate. While a student at Texas A&M, she became further involved in politics and the law while working for several national political campaigns. Also, while still in college, she worked for Walt Disney World and May Corporation in their management training programs, learning business skills from their corporate executives. When Miley first moved to Nevada after law school, she clerked with Judge Nancy Oesterle. It was during this clerkship that she learned the practical application of the laws and courtroom procedures. While working with Judge Oesterle, she decided she eventually wanted to pursue a career in the judiciary. However, prior to fulfilling her dream of being a Judge, Miley knew she needed to expand her legal experience. In order to gain the broadest range of experience, Miley worked for several different types of law firms. While at Pyatt, Eglet & Silvestri and Edwards & Hale, she had the opportunity to represent both plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury, medical malpractice, and products liability litigations as well as other insurance related litigations. While at Jolley, Urga, Wirth & Woodbury, Miley also had the opportunity to represent both plaintiffs and defendants in business and probate cases. Immediately prior to taking the bench, she had her own firm specializing in personal injury, family law, criminal law, and other assorted civil litigation. Trial Experience: While in private practice, Miley tried several jury trials and conducted over 100 arbitrations, over 200 depositions, and numerous evidentiary hearings. She also handled hearings in front of various administrative agencies, including the Department of Motor Vehicles. One of her notable cases involved the representation of Sandra Murphy in her litigation against the Estate of Ted Binion. Miley was elected to District Court, Family Division, in November 2004. She took the bench in January 2005. Trials Presided Over: From January 2005 to December 2008, during her tenure as a Family Court Judge in Department F, Miley presided over 576 evidentiary hearings and bench trials and heard a total of 16 Settlement Conferences. As a civil and criminal judge from January 2009 to present, she has presided over a total of 67 trials. Several of these cases have resulted in published opinions. These opinions include: State v. Dist. Ct. (Armstrong), 267 P.3d 777 (Nev. 2011). Mountain View Hospital v. Dist. Ct., 273 P.3d 861 (Nev. 2012). Rock Bay, LLC. V. Dist. Ct., 298 P.3d 441 (Nev. 2013). Blackburn v. State, 294 P.3d 422 (Nev. 2013) Torres v. Goodyear, 317 P.3d 828 (Nev. 2014) In 2014, as of June 12, 2014, she presided over 4 criminal jury trials and 17 Evidentiary Hearings. In 2013, she presided over a total of 18 trials. 6 of these trials were civil jury trials and 12 were criminal jury trials. She also conducted a total of 4 Settlement Conferences and heard 31 Evidentiary Hearings. In 2012, she presided over a total of 3 civil jury trials, 1 civil bench trial, and 9 criminal jury trials for a total of 13 trials during the year. She also presided over 33 Evidentiary Hearings and 8 Settlement Conferences. In 2011, she presided over a total of 1 civil bench trial and 6 criminal jury trials for a total of 7 trials during the year. She presided over 29 Evidentiary Hearings and 11 Settlement Conferences. In 2010, she presided over a total of 3 civil jury trials and 10 criminal jury trials for a total of 13 trials during the year. She also presided over 24 Evidentiary Hearings and 3 Settlement Conferences. In 2009, she presided over a total of 2 bench civil trials, 2 civil jury trials, and 8 criminal jury trials for a total of 12 trials during the year. She presided over 22 Evidentiary Hearings and 7 Settlement Conferences. In contrast with other departments, she has a low peremptory rate. In 2009, Miley had 17 peremptory challenges; In 2010, she had 14 peremptory challenges; In 2011, she had 7 peremptory challenges; In 2012, she had 8 peremptory challenges; In 2013, she had 6 peremptory challenges; and, so far, in 2014, she has 3 peremptory challenges. Desire to Run for Judicial Seat: Miley ran for judgeship because she wanted to make a difference in our judicial system and contribute to society. She has achieved this goal by being very fair, extremely patient, diligent in her preparation for court, expeditious with her court rulings and decisions and setting matters on calendar, and by explaining to the litigants how and why she makes her rulings. Often, when she is out in public running errands or attending events and functions, Miley is approached by individuals who have been in her court either as a party, a witness, or as a juror, and who compliment her on their good experience in her courtroom. It is rewarding to hear that she helped individuals get their life back in order, reunite with their families, or that she changed, for the better, their opinion of the judicial system. Work History Qualifications: As a District Court Judge for the last nine years and six months, Miley is the most qualified candidate. Prior to taking the bench, she was a trial attorney practicing in civil, criminal, and domestic litigation. Additionally, as an attorney, she tried cases and conducted hundreds of depositions and hearings. Training as an attorney gave her great familiarity with the courtroom and court procedure. As a judge, she is the only judge in Clark County who has been elected to the Family, Civil and Criminal court benches. As a judge in all three areas of the court, Miley have overseen hundreds of diverse court proceedings. For the last nine years and six months, she has worked hard to create a courtroom environment where cases are handled efficiently and people are treated equally and fairly. Previous Election Experience: After a contested race in 2004, Miley took the bench as a family court judge in the 8th Judicial District Court, Department F, in January 2005. After another contested race, she was elected to Department 23’s seat in November 2008 with 70% of the votes. She took the Department 23 bench in January 2009 and still currently hold this position. Qualities Fit to Serve as a Judge: Miley’s greatest strengths are that she is extremely thorough, prepared, fair, and patient. She believes everyone is entitled to a voice in court and she recognizes that court procedures are often very stressful for individuals. In fact, in December 2013, the Review Journal Judges’ survey gave Miley a 90% more than adequate/adequate rating on the issue of courteous behavior to individuals who come into the courtroom and a rating of 91% more than adequate/adequate on being free from bias based upon race or ethnic origin. Also, she believes it is the responsibility of the judge to be extremely thorough and fully prepared prior to court hearings. She spends many hours each week reading and researching matters, prior to their hearing dates, to ensure she is prepared for each hearing. Additionally, being fully prepared promotes court efficiency and she regularly reviews her cases to ensure they are moving through the courts in a timely manner. This is evidenced by her rating of 83% more than adequate/adequate for efficiency in moving cases through the court. Bar Discipline: Miley has not been subject to discipline by the bar. To Speed Process & Minimize Case Delays: Miley had the following to say about speeding up the process and minimizing case delays: "Based on the latest court statistics, a civil case in my court takes 12.1 months on average, to be disposed of, from the time the case is opened until it is closed or dismissed. In contrast, the average disposition time for all other civil departments is 13.9 months. On criminal cases, the average disposition time in my court is 7.4 months. In contrast, the other criminal departments’ average disposition time is 7.8 months. Additionally, my department is very pro-active in processing cases through the court system. To ensure cases are not languishing in the system, my staff and I continuously monitor the cases assigned to my department. If a case shows very little, or no activity, a court date is set for counsel to appear in court to discuss the status of the case. At these status check hearings, cases frequently resolve or are referred to the Alternative Dispute Resolution department. Cases which do not resolve are then timely set for trial and Department 23 is often able to accommodate attorneys on their requested trial dates. Cases that are prepared to go to trial are tried in Department 23 and only referred to Overflow if my court is already in trial." |
CRAIG FRIEDBERG
Friedberg is a longtime Las Vegan who has been a trial lawyer for 28 years. He is currently a Short Trial Judge for the District Court, a Justice Court Judge Pro Tem, a Clark County hearing officer and an arbitrator. Friedberg earned his bachelor’s degree a Vassar, and his law degree from University of San Diego. He is active in local charities and spent ten years as a Sunday school teacher.
Friedberg is a longtime Las Vegan who has been a trial lawyer for 28 years. He is currently a Short Trial Judge for the District Court, a Justice Court Judge Pro Tem, a Clark County hearing officer and an arbitrator. Friedberg earned his bachelor’s degree a Vassar, and his law degree from University of San Diego. He is active in local charities and spent ten years as a Sunday school teacher.
