Judge Jim C. Shirley

The Honorable James "Jim" C. Shirley was born March 27, 1967, in Pioche, Nevada. He studied Spanish at Brigham Young University and pursued general studies at Utah State University before earning his Juris Doctorate from Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1994. A Nevada native, he carried a deep love for the state throughout his life and career.

After several years in private practice, Judge Shirley joined the Pershing County District Attorney's Office as a Deputy District Attorney in 2000, and was elected District Attorney in 2002. He also served as a special prosecutor in Churchill, Humboldt, and Lander Counties, and remained active in the Nevada and National District Attorneys Associations.

In 2014, Judge Shirley was elected to the Sixth Judicial District Court, taking the bench in 2015 and presiding over Humboldt, Lander, and Pershing Counties. Following redistricting, he presided over the newly formed Eleventh Judicial District, comprising Lander, Mineral, and Pershing Counties, where he heard civil and criminal cases until his death. Chief Justice Douglas Herndon remembered him as "a pillar of our judicial community" and "a true gentleman," noting his wisdom, compassion, and dedication. Judge Shirley died October 15, 2025, at the age of 58.