On Saturday, July 19, 2025, The Nevada Independent reported that Nye County District Court Judge Kimberly Wanker filed a petition with the Nevada Supreme Court on July 16, 2025, seeking clarification on whether the state’s attorney general’s office is obligated to provide legal representation for judges facing complaints before the Commission on Judicial Discipline. The commission is responsible for investigating allegations of judicial misconduct or disability.
Wanker, the first female district court judge in rural Nevada, submitted the petition following a June 18, 2025, letter from the commission notifying her of a complaint against her, supported by sufficient evidence to warrant a response. Details of the complaint remain confidential at this stage.
The petition highlights a potential conflict, as the complaint was filed by First Assistant Attorney General Craig Newby, prompting Wanker to request alternative counsel from the attorney general’s office.
The filing cites Nevada law, which mandates that the attorney general provide legal defense for local judicial officers in civil actions. However, the attorney general’s office denied Wanker’s request, stating that the law does not extend to providing representation in proceedings before the judicial discipline commission. The office’s role typically includes representing the state, its agencies, employees, and judicial officers in civil court cases, such as lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies for their role in the opioid crisis.
Wanker’s petition raises questions about the separation of powers and the scope of the attorney general’s responsibilities in disciplinary matters.
Wanker has served as a Nye County judge for years and was the inspiration for the lead character in a 2023 Lifetime drama featuring Reba McEntire.
This is not Wanker’s first encounter with the judicial discipline commission. Nearly a decade ago, the commission publicly reprimanded her for wrongly holding a defendant in contempt of court. As part of the reprimand, Wanker vacated the contempt ruling and completed courses on courtroom management and judicial ethics.
In 2022, Wanker dismissed an emergency petition aimed at stopping Nye County’s plan to hand-count votes during the midterm elections, a decision that drew attention to her judicial record.
The petition before the Nevada Supreme Court seeks to resolve whether the attorney general’s office is legally required to represent judges in disciplinary proceedings, potentially setting a precedent for how such cases are handled in the future.
Source: The Nevada Independent
