FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 3, 2020

CONTACT: Chandeni Sendall, President, Washoe County Bar Association, 775-334-2050, Patricia Halstead, Judicial Survey
Chairman, 775-322-2244

WASHOE COUNTY BAR RELEASES JUDICIAL SURVEY RESULTS

RENO, NEVADA — Washoe County Bar Association, a local bar association with just over 900 members, has conducted a
judicial performance survey every two years since 1994.   WCBA believes this public service is significant, as it informs our
citizens of the performance of judges whom they have elected and entrusted with a most sacred obligation. Local lawyers, who
represent clients in cases before these judicial officers, are in an excellent position to provide a first-hand evaluation of their
performance.  This year’s survey results demonstrate that we continue to elect and retain hard working, experienced, well-
respected judges in Washoe County.  

Chandeni Sendall, President of the Washoe County Bar Association, stated: “The survey is conducted every two years and is a
performance measure of the judiciary by the members of the Bar who appear and practice law before each judge. The survey
includes questions regarding each judge’s knowledge of the law and procedure, the ability to be fair, the judge’s effective
application of the law, judicial temperament, efficient case management, and professionalism. The survey results are then used
to calculate performance scores from 1 to 5, with five being the highest and best possible score. The survey is a tool to allow
the judges within our community an opportunity to receive confidential and constructive feedback from those attorneys who
practice regularly before them. The survey also provides the public insight into the performance of our judges as reviewed by
those who interact and practice law before them on a regular basis. Overall, this year’s survey indicates that Washoe County
has the benefit of a wise and well-informed judiciary who serve the community well. The Washoe County Bar Association
would like to thank all the attorneys who participated in the survey.”

Chief Judge Scott Freeman stated: “ The global pandemic caused by the coronavirus has required unprecedented changes by
the Second Judicial District Court, its judges, and the members of the bar. The Court appreciates the efforts of the Washoe
County Bar Association in generating the survey and its members for responding during this challenging time. Your input
continues to be important, especially as we adjust to this new environment. The judges of the Second Judicial District Court are
deeply committed to serving the public in accordance with its mission to provide timely, fair, and efficient administration of
justice under the law. We thank the Washoe County Bar Association members for their participation and appreciate our shared
commitment to excellent service to the Washoe County community”.

Public and private attorneys who practice in Washoe Courts were eligible to participate, regardless of membership in the
Washoe County Bar Association. WCBA sent 1027 survey instruction letters, but since many lawyers do not practice in front
of judges on a regular basis, WCBA estimates that only a portion of those attorneys are eligible to complete the survey. The
survey was conducted online using the firm BallotBoxOnline, a Texas-based firm that conducts elections and judicial surveys
for associations, including many Bar Associations. Meridian Advantage, a Forensic Accounting-Litigation Support-Business
Valuation firm produces the report for public release as well as the confidential reports, which were delivered to the judges.

The survey can be viewed by the pubic at www.wcbar.org/about/.

The average scores are as follows (District Court judges are listed by General Jurisdiction and Family Court.)

WASHOE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION JUDICIAL SURVEY 2020

Should this judge be retained?

Performance
Score Average Yes No
Supreme Court
Justice Elissa Cadish - 85.2% 14.8%
Justice Mark Gibbons - - -
Justice James Hardesty - 88.5% 11.5%
Justice Ron Parraguirre - 86.7% 13.3%
Justice Kristine Pickering - 90.2% 9.8%
Justice Abbi Silver - 70.0% 30.0%
Justice Lidia Stiglich - 92.8% 7.2%

Nevada Court of Appeals

Judge Bonnie Bulla - 68.2% 31.8%
Judge Michael Gibbons - 84.8% 15.2%
Judge Jerome Tao - 47.6% 52.4%

General Jurisdiction
Judge Kathleen Drakulich (Dept. 1) 4.5 95.5% 4.5%
Judge Jerry Polaha (Dept. 3) 4.1 86.9% 13.1%
Judge Connie Steinheimer (Dept. 4) 3.9 75.5% 24.5%
Judge Lynne Simons (Dept. 6) 3.9 80.6% 19.4%
Judge Egan Walker (Dept. 7) 4.1 82.5% 17.5%
Judge Barry Breslow (Dept. 8) 3.8 70.9% 29.1%
Judge Scott Freeman (Dept. 9) 4.2 92.2% 7.8%
Judge Elliott Sattler (Dept. 10) 4.6 97.2% 2.8%
Judge David Hardy (Dept. 15) 4.2 87.9% 12.1%

Family Division
Judge Dixie Grossman (Dept. 2) 4.7 97.8% 2.2%
Judge Cynthia Lu (Dept. 5) 4.1 88.1% 11.9%
Judge Chuck Weller (Dept. 11) 2.8 - -
Judge Sandra Unsworth (Dept. 12) 4.4 94.4% 5.6%
Judge Bridget Robb (Dept. 13) 3.9 78.6% 21.4%
Judge Tamatha Schreinert (Dept. 14) 4.5 100.0% 0.0%
 Peremptory Challenges Second Judicial District Court

07/01/18 - 01/01/19 -
Department Judge 12/31/18 06/30/19 07/01/19 - 12/31/19 01/01/20-06/30/20 2 Year Total
1 Drakulich 2 1 0 2 5
2 Grossman 3 0 1 0 4
3 Polaha 1 1 0 0 2
4 Steinheimer 0 4 3 1 8
5 Lu 0 0 0 0 0
6 Simons 2 2 3 4 11
7 Walker 3 1 5 7 16
8 Breslow 2 0 4 3 9
9 Freeman 3 1 1 1 6
10 Sattler 1 1 0 1 3
11 Weller 20 23 26 16 85
12 Unsworth N/A N/A N/A 1 1
13 Robb 2 3 5 7 17
14 Schreinert N/A 0 0 1 1
15 Hardy 5 1 1 0 7

*Note: For D12 (Judge Unsworth) and D14 (Judge Schreinert), the number of
Peremptory Challenges reflects those filed since Judge Unsworth and Judge
Schreinert took office, which was after the reporting period began. Judge
Unsworth took office on 11/2019 and Judge Schreinert took office on 4/2019.