Category Archives: Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada news
May 13, 2022 Judge William Voy announces his retirement after 24 years serving in the Family Division of District Court
Judge William Voy has committed his career to serving the youth of Clark County. He was appointed by the governor of the State of Nevada to the Eighth Judicial District Court in 1998. For the first five years, Judge Voy heard domestic matters related primarily to divorce, custody and child-support. He also presided over the Adult Mental Health Civil Commitment Court. In 2003, he was selected to preside over the juvenile delinquency court. His communications style and life-experiences made the assignment a perfect fit. In 2005, Judge Voy established the nation’s first specialty court for sexually exploited youth. In addition, he implemented the state’s first juvenile diversion court and mental health court, as well as oversaw the implementation of Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) that reduced average daily population in detention by 50 percent. As a result, Judge Voy developed the first Probation 24/7 Intensive Supervision Unit in the country.
Judge Voy has been a key figure in Keeping Kids in School Summits hosted by the Eighth Judicial District Court, the Nevada State Public Charter School Authority and the Clark County School District. The summits have been held over many years to bring those involved in education, justice and youth services together to cover techniques to improve student success and graduation rates. Judge William Voy also oversaw the Truancy Diversion Program (TDP) an effective, non-punitive, incentive-based approach to re-engage at-risk students with truancy problems to prevent and reduce youth crime.
“Judge Voy has dedicated many years to turning the lives around of youth facing the justice system in our community,” said District Court Chief Judge Linda Marie Bell. “We wish Judge Voy well in all his future endeavors.” In a letter to the governor and chief justice of the Nevada Supreme Court announcing his retirement, Judge Voy wrote, “For the last twenty-four years, it has been my great privilege and honor to serve the families and citizens of Clark County and the State of Nevada. I look forward to being able to continue to serve the families and citizens of Nevada in the future.” His retirement is effective May 31 of this year.
“Striving to find good in the youth who appeared before him, Judge Voy has been an innovative leader in creating programs to provide structure and help, rather than punishment, where appropriate to guide children to better choices and a better life. Judge Voy will be greatly missed by his colleagues, community partners and the families he has assisted,” said Presiding Family Division Judge Rebecca Burton. “As the judicial officer who married my husband and I, Judge Voy holds an extra special place in my heart.”
Prior to being appointed to the District Court bench, Judge Voy spent 10 years in private practice in Las Vegas and also served as a captain in the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Office, stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Judge Voy received his law degree from Willamette University in Salem Oregon in 1986.
Tags: Clark County Courts, Eighth Judicial District Court, Judge William Voy, juvenile justice in Las Vegas, Las Vegas Court, Nevada Court, Nevada Eighth Judicial District Court, Truancy Diversion Program Clark County, truancy prevention, William Voy
March 15, 2022 Two district court judges honored as trailblazers by state bar
Judge Nancy Allf and Judge Gloria Sturman have both been selected for the 2022 Bryan K. Scott Trailblazer Award by the State Bar of Nevada. The Trailblazer Award was established last year, to be given to members who exemplify the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal community of Nevada. Recipients are selected for their work to dismantle institutional bias, create a welcoming and and inclusive professional community by promoting awareness of diverse values, creating or supporting diversity, equity and inclusion programs, or leading by example.
Judge Sturman served as president of the State Bar of Nevada from 2002-03. Judge Allf, who is the presiding civil judge in district court, served as president of the state bar from 2007-08. Both judges are extremely active in programs to improve access to justice, legal education and in programs that improve communication with the bar. They have been active in hosting Civil Bench-Bar meetings and brown bag luncheons. Both have also been very active in community outreach including mock trial competitions, mock trials for students at the courthouse and mentorship programs.
In addition to Judge Allf’s service as the president of the Nevada Bar Association, she also served as president of the Clark County Bar Association in 1999. In 2000, she served as president of the board of directors of the Clark County Law Foundation. She is currently an active member in the American Bar Association, the Southern Nevada Association of Women Attorneys, and the Southern Nevada Association of Bankruptcy Attorneys. She is active in the ABA’s Business Law Section and regularly hosts law students with diverse backgrounds during summer breaks, for a program called Diversity Clerkships.
In addition to serving as the as president of the Clark County Bar Association (1994-1995), Southern Nevada Association of Women Attorneys (President 1988-1989), Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, Board of Trustees (President 1996-1998). Judge Sturman was also a member of the boards of the Frontier Girl Scout Council Board of Trustees (1991-1994), Las Vegas Art Museum Board of Directors (1999-2001), National Conference of Bar Presidents, Board (2003-2006, and chair of the Diversity Task Force 2005-2006).
Recognizing the work of Judge Allf and Judge Sturman to further diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal community of Nevada is particularly notable this month, because March is Women’s History Month. Women’s History Month commemorates and encourages the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history. Judge Sturman and Judge Allf are building and enriching that history.
Tags: 2022 Bryan K. Scott Trailblazer Award, Bryan K. Scott, Bryan K. Scott Trailblazer Award, Judge Gloria Sturman, Judge Nancy Allf, State Bar of Nevada, Women's History Month, Women's History Month Courts
June 1, 2021 Legal community mourns the loss of the Honorable Valerie Adair
The legal community mourns the loss of The Honorable Valerie Adair, who passed away Sunday. Judge Adair served with distinction on the bench of the Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada until her recent retirement. “I am extremely saddened at the news that Judge Valerie Adair passed away. Judge Adair served on the District Court bench from January of 2003 until she retired in January of this year. Prior to that, she had a distinguished career with the Clark County District Attorneys Office. She was brilliant, an amazing jurist, and far too young. She will be missed,” said Chief Judge Linda Bell.
Tags: District Court Judges Valerie Adair, Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada, Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada judges, Judge Linda Bell, Judge Valerie Adair, Judge Valerie Adair obituary, Judges who passed in Nevada, Valerie Adair
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