- Name: Judge Joanna S. Kishner
- Office Sought: Eighth Judicial District Court – Department XXXI
- Website: https://www.judgekishner.com
Judge Joanna S. Kishner has proudly served the people of Clark County as the presiding judge of Department XXXI of the Eighth Judicial District Court since first being elected in 2010. Judge Kishner was born and raised in Las Vegas and raised her family here. Judge Kishner has dedicated her career to serving the community she calls home.
Judge Kishner graduated magna cum laude from Claremont McKenna College with a double major in Political Science and Psychology before earning her Juris Doctorate from UCLA School of Law. Prior to taking the bench, she practiced law for more than twenty years, working with nationally recognized law firms and organizations including Paul Hastings, Warner Bros., and DLA Piper. She was also an Arbitrator and Justice of the Peace Pro-Tem.
Throughout her judicial career, Judge Kishner has handled complex business litigation, construction defect matters, civil litigation, and criminal overflow cases. She has also served on numerous statewide and community organizations, including the Nevada Access to Justice Commission, the Law Library Board of Trustees, and the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada’s Pro Bono Advisory Council. Judge Kishner also serves on the Standing Committee on Judicial Ethics and is also the past President of the Nevada District Judges Association. Judge Kishner was also one of the founding judges of a Legal Studies Internship program for area high schools; and previously, was a member of the community-based Boards of both Clark and ATEC High Schools. Judge Kishner is also a graduate of the FBI Citizen’s Academy.
Judge Kishner is committed to fairness, integrity, access to justice, the rule of law, and maintaining public confidence in the judicial system. She has been recognized throughout her career for both her legal excellence and dedication to pro bono service.
Profiles are paid placements and do not constitute endorsements by the CCBA. For more information about this offer, see Judicial Candidate Profile Offer (2026)