Most appellate cases
Nevada attorneys ranked by how many Supreme Court of Nevada cases they handled, with how those cases came out. This measures experience on the record, not quality.
| # | Attorney | Cases | Years | Results (won / mixed / lost) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Aaron D. FordActiveNevada Office of Attorney General | 3,371 | 2018-2026 | 85% won of 1787 decided cases Won 1524Mixed 59Lost 204 |
| 2 | Alexander G. ChenActiveClark County DA's Office | 1,517 | 2016-2026 | 84% won of 853 decided cases Won 720Mixed 40Lost 93 |
| 3 | Adam P. LaxaltActiveCooper & Kirk PLLC | 1,462 | 2014-2019 | 80% won of 586 decided cases Won 467Mixed 32Lost 87 |
| 4 | Steven S OwensActiveSteven S Owens, LLC | 1,144 | 2004-2026 | 78% won of 568 decided cases Won 444Mixed 30Lost 94 |
| 5 | Jennifer P. NobleActiveWashoe Co. DA's Office | 514 | 2014-2026 | 82% won of 273 decided cases Won 224Mixed 9Lost 40 |
| 6 | Steven Bryan WolfsonExempt ActiveClark County DA's Office | 398 | 2001-2026 | 63% won of 292 decided cases Won 185Mixed 24Lost 83 |
| 7 | Ariel E. SternActive | 364 | 2006-2026 | 65% won of 189 decided cases Won 122Mixed 12Lost 55 |
| 8 | Shanon L. ClowersActiveClark County District Attorney's Office | 304 | 2017-2026 | 76% won of 144 decided cases Won 110Mixed 7Lost 27 |
| 9 | Daniel F. PolsenbergActiveWomble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP | 275 | 2002-2026 | 35% won of 165 decided cases Won 58Mixed 27Lost 80 |
| 10 | Irene S TresserInactive | 207 | 2000-2011 | 62% won of 99 decided cases Won 61Mixed 9Lost 29 |
| 11 | Jonathan VanBoskerckActive | 202 | 2013-2025 | 70% won of 187 decided cases Won 130Mixed 21Lost 36 |
| 12 | Howard S. BrooksInactiveLaw Office of Howard Brooks | 174 | 2002-2022 | 21% won of 138 decided cases Won 29Mixed 15Lost 94 |
| 13 | Darren T. BrennerActiveKlinedinst PC | 161 | 2016-2024 | 65% won of 78 decided cases Won 51Mixed 5Lost 22 |
| 14 | Micah S. EcholsActiveClaggett and Sykes Law Firm | 160 | 2007-2026 | 45% won of 93 decided cases Won 42Mixed 13Lost 38 |
| 15 | Terrence P. McCarthyInactive | 160 | 2000-2019 | 80% won of 75 decided cases Won 60Mixed 4Lost 11 |
| 16 | Michael Frederick BohnActiveMichael F. Bohn, Esq., Ltd. | 157 | 2002-2025 | 32% won of 95 decided cases Won 30Mixed 3Lost 62 |
| 17 | Robert L. EisenbergExempt ActiveLemons, Grundy & Eisenberg | 153 | 2003-2026 | 40% won of 95 decided cases Won 38Mixed 19Lost 38 |
| 18 | John Reese PettyExempt Inactive | 145 | 2000-2024 | 20% won of 81 decided cases Won 16Mixed 3Lost 62 |
| 19 | John Thomas AfsharActiveClark County DA's Office | 141 | 2018-2026 | 82% won of 125 decided cases Won 103Mixed 8Lost 14 |
| 20 | Joseph Y. HongActiveHong & Hong, APLC | 140 | 2017-2026 | 15% won of 62 decided cases Won 9Mixed 4Lost 49 |
| 21 | Joel D. HenriodActiveHenriod Stern PLLC | 138 | 2005-2026 | 41% won of 81 decided cases Won 33Mixed 8Lost 40 |
| 22 | Abraham G. SmithActiveHolland & Hart LLP | 133 | 2016-2026 | 35% won of 86 decided cases Won 30Mixed 13Lost 43 |
| 23 | Kelly H. DoveActiveSnell & Wilmer | 128 | 2012-2026 | 46% won of 71 decided cases Won 33Mixed 6Lost 32 |
| 24 | Karen L. HanksActiveHanks Law Group | 128 | 2010-2026 | 28% won of 75 decided cases Won 21Mixed 7Lost 47 |
| 25 | Jacqueline A. GilbertExempt Inactive | 122 | 2009-2022 | 37% won of 70 decided cases Won 26Mixed 6Lost 38 |
| 26 | Leslie B HartActiveFennemore | 121 | 2014-2025 | 50% won of 4 decided cases Won 2Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 27 | James Norman TuftelandExempt Inactive | 114 | 2000-2008 | 67% won of 54 decided cases Won 36Mixed 8Lost 10 |
| 28 | Rene Louis ValladaresActiveFederal Public Defender's Office | 111 | 2012-2025 | 5% won of 93 decided cases Won 5Mixed 3Lost 85 |
| 29 | Diana Samalaulu ClineActiveCline Legal Solutions LLC | 110 | 2014-2026 | 36% won of 66 decided cases Won 24Mixed 6Lost 36 |
| 30 | Melanie D. MorganActiveAtlas Solomon LLP | 110 | 2012-2024 | 67% won of 55 decided cases Won 37Mixed 2Lost 16 |
| 31 | Scott R. LachmanActiveAkerman LLP | 105 | 2016-2026 | 76% won of 59 decided cases Won 45Mixed 1Lost 13 |
| 32 | Karen Lynn MishlerActiveClark County District Attorney | 103 | 2019-2026 | 83% won of 92 decided cases Won 76Mixed 4Lost 12 |
| 33 | Christopher J. HicksActive | 102 | 2015-2026 | 55% won of 77 decided cases Won 42Mixed 5Lost 30 |
| 34 | Natalie Lynn WinslowActiveAtlas Solomon LLP | 99 | 2013-2025 | 60% won of 55 decided cases Won 33Mixed 2Lost 20 |
| 35 | David J. J. RogerActive | 94 | 2002-2026 | 57% won of 83 decided cases Won 47Mixed 9Lost 27 |
| 36 | Todd L. BiceActivePisanelli Bice, LLC | 92 | 2001-2026 | 50% won of 56 decided cases Won 28Mixed 3Lost 25 |
| 37 | Rex D. GarnerActiveFox Rothschild LLP | 81 | 2013-2026 | 61% won of 46 decided cases Won 28Mixed 2Lost 16 |
| 38 | Taleen R Pandukht EsqActive | 81 | 2007-2025 | 90% won of 73 decided cases Won 66Mixed 0Lost 7 |
| 39 | James J. PisanelliActivePisanelli Bice PLLC | 81 | 2002-2026 | 45% won of 47 decided cases Won 21Mixed 5Lost 21 |
| 40 | Charles W. ThomanActiveClark County DA's Office | 81 | 2017-2021 | 81% won of 72 decided cases Won 58Mixed 6Lost 8 |
| 41 | Joseph P. GarinActiveGarin Law Group | 80 | 2014-2026 | 54% won of 39 decided cases Won 21Mixed 3Lost 15 |
| 42 | Roger P. CroteauActiveRoger P. Croteau & Associates, Ltd | 79 | 2001-2026 | 14% won of 36 decided cases Won 5Mixed 1Lost 30 |
| 43 | Jordan T. SmithActiveBrownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP | 79 | 2014-2026 | 53% won of 45 decided cases Won 24Mixed 4Lost 17 |
| 44 | JoNell ThomasActiveFederal Public Defender | 79 | 2000-2023 | 24% won of 49 decided cases Won 12Mixed 4Lost 33 |
| 45 | Adam R. TrippiediActiveTriLaw | 79 | 2017-2026 | 33% won of 46 decided cases Won 15Mixed 0Lost 31 |
| 46 | Judge Jason D. WoodburyActiveFirst Judicial District Court | 79 | 2004-2024 | 82% won of 33 decided cases Won 27Mixed 1Lost 5 |
| 47 | Kerry P. FaughnanActive | 76 | 2017-2023 | 21% won of 19 decided cases Won 4Mixed 0Lost 15 |
| 48 | John D. Tennert IIIActiveFennemore Craig, P.C. | 76 | 2017-2026 | 50% won of 8 decided cases Won 4Mixed 1Lost 3 |
| 49 | Kirk Darren VittoActivePahrump Justice Court | 76 | 2012-2023 | 88% won of 32 decided cases Won 28Mixed 0Lost 4 |
| 50 | Donna M. WittigActiveSparrow Financial, Inc. | 73 | 2011-2025 | 70% won of 43 decided cases Won 30Mixed 1Lost 12 |
| 51 | Bradley S. SchragerActiveBravo Schrager LLP | 72 | 2008-2026 | 52% won of 48 decided cases Won 25Mixed 3Lost 20 |
| 52 | Lilith Vala XaraActiveLitchfield Cavo, LLP | 72 | 2016-2024 | 64% won of 36 decided cases Won 23Mixed 4Lost 9 |
| 53 | Christopher R. OramActive | 71 | 2002-2026 | 10% won of 62 decided cases Won 6Mixed 3Lost 53 |
| 54 | Marilee CateActiveWashoe County DAs Office | 70 | 2018-2026 | 83% won of 59 decided cases Won 49Mixed 2Lost 8 |
| 55 | Michael K. WallDeceased | 69 | 2006-2024 | 38% won of 40 decided cases Won 15Mixed 1Lost 24 |
| 56 | Margaret A. McLetchieActiveMcLetchie Law | 68 | 2010-2026 | 38% won of 39 decided cases Won 15Mixed 9Lost 15 |
| 57 | Daniel L SchwartzActiveHooks Meng & Clement | 68 | 2003-2026 | 25% won of 24 decided cases Won 6Mixed 0Lost 18 |
| 58 | Ryan J. MacDonaldActive | 67 | 2013-2019 | 67% won of 57 decided cases Won 38Mixed 7Lost 12 |
| 59 | Tyler J. IngramActiveElko County District Attorney | 66 | 2016-2026 | 86% won of 44 decided cases Won 38Mixed 0Lost 6 |
| 60 | Joseph R. Plater IIIInactive | 66 | 2000-2022 | 80% won of 41 decided cases Won 33Mixed 0Lost 8 |
| 61 | Allison L. HerrActiveCannabis Compliance Board | 64 | 2017-2022 | 95% won of 20 decided cases Won 19Mixed 1Lost 0 |
| 62 | Dana Jonathon NitzActive | 64 | 2016-2020 | 63% won of 27 decided cases Won 17Mixed 0Lost 10 |
| 63 | John Henry WrightActiveThe Wright Law Group, P.C. | 63 | 2008-2026 | 39% won of 36 decided cases Won 14Mixed 3Lost 19 |
| 64 | Daniel MarksExempt ActiveLaw Office of Daniel Marks, Ltd. | 62 | 2004-2026 | 39% won of 46 decided cases Won 18Mixed 4Lost 24 |
| 65 | Tenesa Susan PowellActiveJackson Lewis P.C. | 62 | 2017-2020 | 47% won of 32 decided cases Won 15Mixed 2Lost 15 |
| 66 | Mark E. FerrarioActiveGreenberg Traurig, LLP | 60 | 2006-2026 | 58% won of 43 decided cases Won 25Mixed 2Lost 16 |
| 67 | Debra L. SpinelliActivePisanelli Bice PLLC | 60 | 2011-2026 | 51% won of 37 decided cases Won 19Mixed 2Lost 16 |
| 68 | Kent F. LarsenActiveSmith Larsen & Wixom | 59 | 2016-2023 | 71% won of 28 decided cases Won 20Mixed 1Lost 7 |
| 69 | Dennis L. KennedyExempt ActiveBailey Kennedy, LLP | 58 | 2000-2026 | 35% won of 37 decided cases Won 13Mixed 8Lost 16 |
| 70 | Mark B. JacksonActiveDouglas County DA | 57 | 2005-2026 | 83% won of 23 decided cases Won 19Mixed 1Lost 3 |
| 71 | Kevin P. NaughtonActiveWashoe County DA's Office | 57 | 2019-2026 | 74% won of 47 decided cases Won 35Mixed 4Lost 8 |
| 72 | Marshal WillickActiveWillick Law Group | 56 | 2002-2026 | 34% won of 32 decided cases Won 11Mixed 6Lost 15 |
| 73 | Michael N. BeedeActiveAndersen Beede Weisenmiller | 55 | 2016-2024 | 50% won of 28 decided cases Won 14Mixed 2Lost 12 |
| 74 | Christopher L. BennerActivePyatt & Silvestri | 54 | 2011-2024 | 29% won of 24 decided cases Won 7Mixed 0Lost 17 |
| 75 | Sharon Gerber DickinsonExempt Active | 54 | 2002-2022 | 26% won of 42 decided cases Won 11Mixed 6Lost 25 |
| 76 | Philip Jay KohnExempt Inactive | 54 | 2002-2021 | 28% won of 47 decided cases Won 13Mixed 5Lost 29 |
| 77 | Christina V. MillerActiveWright, Finlay & Zak, LLP | 54 | 2017-2025 | 71% won of 24 decided cases Won 17Mixed 1Lost 6 |
| 78 | Craig A. MuellerActiveCraig Mueller & Associates | 54 | 2008-2026 | 18% won of 28 decided cases Won 5Mixed 0Lost 23 |
| 79 | Frank A. Toddre IIActiveCozen O'Connor | 54 | 2018-2025 | 81% won of 16 decided cases Won 13Mixed 2Lost 1 |
| 80 | Christopher R. ArabiaActiveCity of Ely | 53 | 2016-2026 | 79% won of 33 decided cases Won 26Mixed 0Lost 7 |
| 81 | David Paul SnyderActiveClaggett & Sykes | 53 | 2021-2026 | 57% won of 35 decided cases Won 20Mixed 3Lost 12 |
| 82 | Robert C. McBrideActiveMcBride Hall | 52 | 2010-2026 | 50% won of 34 decided cases Won 17Mixed 4Lost 13 |
| 83 | Angela A. BelloActiveWolfenzon Rolle | 51 | 2012-2022 | 89% won of 9 decided cases Won 8Mixed 0Lost 1 |
| 84 | Richard F. CornellExempt ActiveRichard F. Cornell, P.C. | 51 | 2000-2026 | 16% won of 38 decided cases Won 6Mixed 2Lost 30 |
| 85 | Sean L. AndersonActiveWilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP | 49 | 2016-2025 | 76% won of 29 decided cases Won 22Mixed 2Lost 5 |
| 86 | Luis A. AyonActiveSouthwest Injury Law PLLC | 49 | 2016-2025 | 33% won of 21 decided cases Won 7Mixed 1Lost 13 |
| 87 | Tami D. CowdenInactive | 49 | 2006-2025 | 50% won of 32 decided cases Won 16Mixed 4Lost 12 |
| 88 | Nancy L. LemckeActive | 49 | 2008-2026 | 16% won of 44 decided cases Won 7Mixed 3Lost 34 |
| 89 | Kimball J. JonesActiveBighorn Law | 48 | 2017-2026 | 60% won of 30 decided cases Won 18Mixed 3Lost 9 |
| 90 | Emily M. McFarlingActiveMcFarling Cohen Fic & Squires | 48 | 2009-2025 | 28% won of 25 decided cases Won 7Mixed 8Lost 10 |
| 91 | Karla Kay ButkoActiveKarla K. Butko, Ltd. | 47 | 2001-2026 | 22% won of 37 decided cases Won 8Mixed 1Lost 28 |
| 92 | Thera Aschanta CooperActiveTyson & Mendes, LLP | 47 | 2017-2020 | 73% won of 26 decided cases Won 19Mixed 1Lost 6 |
| 93 | Darin F. ImlayActive | 47 | 2001-2026 | 32% won of 41 decided cases Won 13Mixed 4Lost 24 |
| 94 | Abran E. VigilActiveBallard Spahr LLP | 47 | 2015-2025 | 59% won of 17 decided cases Won 10Mixed 1Lost 6 |
| 95 | Douglas D. GerrardActiveGerrard, Cox & Larsen | 46 | 2002-2024 | 69% won of 29 decided cases Won 20Mixed 2Lost 7 |
| 96 | Matthew L. SharpActiveMatthew L. Sharp, Ltd. | 46 | 2008-2026 | 53% won of 17 decided cases Won 9Mixed 1Lost 7 |
| 97 | Paul C. DeyhleActiveNevada Commission on Judicial Discipline | 45 | 2014-2026 | 80% won of 10 decided cases Won 8Mixed 0Lost 2 |
| 98 | Krista D. BarrieInactiveOffice of Lawyers Prof Responsibility | 44 | 2016-2020 | 74% won of 43 decided cases Won 32Mixed 3Lost 8 |
| 99 | Richard A. Gammick SrDeceased | 44 | 2000-2014 | 68% won of 28 decided cases Won 19Mixed 2Lost 7 |
| 100 | Brian T. KunziActiveNye County DA's Office | 44 | 2001-2026 | 78% won of 23 decided cases Won 18Mixed 1Lost 4 |
How these numbers are computed
Where the data comes from. Published decisions and unpublished dispositional orders of the Supreme Court of Nevada and Court of Appeals of Nevada, with each case's parties and their lawyers taken from the courts' public case records. We match lawyer names to the bar roll and only count confident matches. Case data via YourNevadaJudges.com. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit cases come from the public RECAP Archive on CourtListener (Free Law Project) and cover only the Nevada-origin dockets already in that archive, so the federal count is partial.
Cases counts each case once, no matter how many filings it had. Heads of government law offices (district attorneys, the attorney general, public defenders) are listed on every case their office handles, which is why they lead the table.
Results. Won means the court ruled the way that lawyer's side asked. Mixed means the court agreed in part. The percentage is won divided by all decided cases (won, mixed, and lost). Cases that were dismissed for procedural reasons, or where we could not determine the result, are not counted.
Read the percentage with care. Appellate courts uphold far more rulings than they overturn. A lawyer who mostly defends rulings will naturally show a higher won-share than one who mostly challenges them, and prosecutors mostly defend. Hover over a Results cell for the split between challenging and defending. Coverage of unpublished orders is still being extended, so counts for some lawyers will grow.
Firm view credits a case to the firm where the lawyer works today, even if the lawyer was elsewhere when the case was decided.