On Monday, May 18, 2026, Law&Crime reported that Michele Fiore, a suspended Nevada justice of the peace, initiated a legal challenge against state judicial regulators, disputing a three-count ethics complaint against her. Fiore, known as “Lady Trump,” argues that the complaint represents an unconstitutional overreach and an attempt to override a pardon issued by President Donald Trump.
In a 14-page motion to dismiss, Fiore contends that the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline lacks the authority to retroactively punish her for actions that occurred before she assumed her judicial position. She asserts that the commission’s role is to uphold the law and that their actions are based on personal beliefs and a manipulation of rules to counteract the presidential pardon and the will of Nye County citizens who elected her.
The commission has accused Fiore of violating the Revised Nevada Code of Judicial Conduct by misappropriating approximately $70,000 in donations intended for a memorial fund honoring slain police officers. According to Law&Crime, federal investigators had determined that these funds, solicited in 2019 when Fiore was a Las Vegas city councilwoman, were used for personal expenses, including rent, cosmetic procedures, and her daughter’s wedding.
In October 2024, Fiore was convicted of seven felonies involving fraud and moral turpitude. However, President Trump granted her a full and unconditional pardon shortly before her scheduled sentencing, effectively closing the criminal case.
Despite the pardon, the judicial commission has pursued professional discipline against Fiore, alleging that the original purpose of the donations was “abrogated” because the monument was ultimately funded by a private developer. Regulators argue that Fiore was legally obligated to return the money or seek alternative instructions from donors and that her refusal constitutes unjust enrichment, undermining public trust in the court system.
Fiore has countered that the commission’s actions are based on a novel legal theory that subverts state constitutional boundaries. She claims the commission lacks jurisdiction because it has not identified any independent judicial misconduct since she assumed her post in Nye County, relying instead on pre-judicial conduct.
According to Fiore’s filing, “Jurisdiction is not a procedural technicality,” but rather “the constitutional boundary separating lawful authority from governmental overreach.” She argues that accepting the commission’s theory would mean any unresolved allegation or debt predating judicial service could become an ethics violation upon assuming office, which she claims is not authorized by Nevada law.
Fiore also argues that the commission is attempting to manufacture jurisdiction by mislabeling the unpaid funds as “continuing misconduct.” She asserts that a continuing violation requires a continuing legal duty, which she has never been subject to via a civil judgment, restitution order, or contractual obligation. Her defense maintains that because no law or court order was violated, she could not have failed to comply with the law.
Fiore remains suspended with pay while seeking reelection.
Source: Law&Crime
