March's Blog

Supreme Court Event: March 20, 2019

In honor of Women's History Month, the NNWLA is hosting a reception and discussion with the Justices of the Nevada Supreme Court on Wednesday, March 20th at the Supreme Court in Carson City.  The discussion will be moderated by former Supreme Court Justice Miriam Shearing.  The Supreme Court Law Library will also be offering tours of its rare book collection. To celebrate Women's History Month, we invite attendees to wear the color white, which was the color embraced by the Women's Suffrage movement. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Congress passing the 19h Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote. The reception begins at 5:15 pm, followed by the discussion at 6:15 pm.

The cost for the event is $20 for members, $25 for non-members, and $40 for a member plus one guest. The event will include a drinks reception with food catered by LA Bakery. Please RSVP by March 13, 2019.
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Meet Our (Newest) Supremes!
- Bronagh M. Kelly

​Following their investiture on January 10, 2019, Justices Silver and Cadish got straight to work. Both women very kindly made time in their busy schedules to sit down for a chat with NNWLA to discuss their new roles. We look forward to hearing much more from them and our other Justices at the highly anticipated Supreme Court Event on March 20, 2019.
 
It cannot be said enough these two women are making history. Through their recent election to the Supreme Court, coupled with the re-election of Justice Stiglich and Justice Pickering, the first female-majority Supreme Court in Nevada was created and history was made. 
 
This historical occasion is not lost on either new Justice, both of whom are honored to be part of something so special. Both women have had incredible careers prior to taking their seats on the highest Court in the State of Nevada and believe that all roads have led them to this point.
 
For Justice Silver, she could never have dreamed of her career path when she first started as an Assistant District Attorney. Primarily due to the fact one of the Courts over which she has presided was not even created until 2014 when it was approved by voters. Justice Silver’s election to the Supreme Court is history making for another reason; she is the only judge in Nevada's history to have presided at every level of the state's judiciary. 
 
After a long career as an Assistant District Attorney in Clark County, working in the major crimes unit, Justice Silver decided on a change of direction and was elected as a Municipal Court Judge. This brought a welcome change of pace, and a change in her personal life with the arrival of her two children. After a few years, Justice Silver moved to the District Court, which she described as the hardest Court on which to preside. Due to the sheer volume of cases and law and motion calendars, many days were spent entirely on the bench. This meant that all the preparatory work was performed “after hours.” This could be challenging with the demands of family life and young children. Justice Silver had always envisaged presiding over jury trials, having started her career as a law clerk in District Court and a long career as a trial attorney. She described her time in District Court as exciting and fulfilling, having an array of case types. 
 
When Justice Silver began to consider a change from District Court, talk of the Court of Appeals was beginning to swirl. Never thinking it would pass, she had a running bet with her staff that should it pass, she would apply. After four years on the inaugural Court of Appeals, fate stepped in. As timing would have it, and with two Justices retiring from the Supreme Court, it was the natural progression in her career. Justice Silver acknowledges that no amount of planning could have led her to her current position. Timing is everything in becoming a Judge or Justice, in her opinion. 
 
Notwithstanding an impressive career thus far, and her history making Supreme Court seat, Justice Silver believes her most important (and most challenging) role begins when she gets home to her family and children. Being a parent is her number one role. Justice Silver demonstrates that women can have it all and get to the very top of their profession, but fully acknowledges that it can be a difficult balance and requires a lot of help. 
 
Justice Cadish, the self-professed “law geek,” is enjoying the exciting transition into her new role. She thrives on learning the processes and the ins and outs of the new job - from working on resolving cases to learning who to ask for post-its! One of her favorite parts of her new role is following arguments from the parties, sitting in a room with the other Justices discussing the unique issues that have been presented, and how the law applies to the specific facts. 
 
The magnitude of this moment in Nevada history has had a large impact on Justice Cadish’s new position. While she does not believe the majority female Court is a major player in day-to-day workings of the Court, she does feel that it could inspire a new generation of female attorneys. For young girls in high school considering a legal career, they can look to the Supreme Court and see that it is possible. She believes the diversity on the Supreme Court will assist in improving diversity among the legal profession. For Justice Cadish, she hopes to see more women as first chair trial attorneys, more women arguing before the Supreme Court, and a majority-female Supreme Court will help get us there. 
 
On a personal note, Justice Cadish also takes pride in being able to demonstrate that you do not have to be a 3rdgeneration lawyer, or even a native Nevadan, to make it to the highest court in the State. Justice Cadish was born and raised on the east coast and prior to going to Las Vegas for a clerkship for then-U.S. District Judge Philip Pro, she had never been further west than Chicago. Twenty-nine years later, she is still here and calls Nevada home. She has raised her family here, and believes that Nevada has been good to her. 
 
Justice Cadish recognizes the growth of our State of Nevada in recent years, but still sees the advantage of a “small state.” Our Courts are accessible. Our Judges and Justices are accessible (evidenced by the very conversations that led to this article). If our judiciary is accessible, then justice can be accessible. Justice Cadish believes this is how it should be; justice should be accessible to all, not just the wealthy. 

Article of the Month

A federal judge in Texas has declared that an all-male military draft is unconstitutional, ruling that “the time has passed” for a debate on whether women belong in the military. In 2015, the Pentagon lifted all restrictions for women in military service. U.S. District Judge Gray Miller ruled that while historical restrictions on women serving in combat “may have justified past discrimination,” men and women are now equally able to fight. 
The full article can be viewed here.

University of Nevada, Reno 2019 International Women's Day 

Women in Law: Las Vegas, March 11, 2019 

Child's Voice Luncheon: April 26, 2019

Save the Date for NNWLA Lawyer in the Library Night: May 8, 2019

​Please save the date for NNWLA's annual Lawyer in the Library night at the Washoe County Law Library.  More details to follow.