Hearing master and personal injury attorney seek open Justice Court seat • Nevada Current

The campaign to fill the vacated seat by retiring Clark County Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman pits former prosecutor Amy Ferreira against attorney Nancy Bernstein.

amber is a Las Vegas native with 15 years of experience as a criminal defense attorney and civil litigator, according to her website. She earned her law degree from UNLV's Boyd Law School, worked as a law clerk for former District Judge Lee Gates and completed an internship with the District Attorney's Office. She currently works as a personal injury attorney at the Richard Harris Law Firm.

Ferreira moved to Las Vegas to work for the Clark County District Attorney's Office after graduating from Syracuse University College of Law in 2006. She served as a prosecutor for 13 years and completed 35 felony jury trials – some of them for the Special Victims Unit, where she prosecuted cases involving sexually abused children. Ferreira founded the first animal cruelty unit in the DA's office and runs a small farm where she houses rescued animals.

In 2020, the Clark County Justices of the Peace appointed Ferreira as hearing director, where she has overseen a variety of calendars over the past four years, including small claims, evictions, traffic and offender first appearances.

“In many cases, court is a person’s first contact with the criminal justice system,” she says, noting that this experience can influence perceptions. “When people have a good, positive experience in court, it makes them want to participate in the process – whether they are a victim, a witness, a first responder or a defendant. It sets the tone for the future.”

Ferreira says that during her four years as hearing administrator, she has managed to avoid the perception of prosecutorial bias, noting that she was named the 2022 Las Vegas Justice Court Employee of the Year.

“I think that speaks to the type of work I do,” she says. “If you were to interview defense attorneys, they would tell you that in the prosecution I was always fair, reasonable, tough and combative, but never uncooperative or unprofessional in any way. I think I have proven that I am a good judicial officer who takes my oath very seriously and would never be biased towards or against either party.”

Bernstein, who is raising a young son, says she originally planned to pass up the chance to run for an open seat, but decided at the last minute to enter the race.

She says she has “much more experience in court” than Ferreira. “I worked as a lawyer for many years and am now a managing partner in Richard Harris’ office. I have argued over 100,000 cases before the Court. I know the system, I know the judges and I’m ready.”

Bernstein admits her experience in criminal cases is limited. She represented clients in traffic cases before they were decriminalized in 2023.

She refused to talk about it Valdez Jimenez Nevada Supreme Court ruling aimed at redressing the disparities created between defendants in bail hearings. The ruling requires judges to impose the least restrictive pretrial conditions on defendants while ensuring the safety of the public and the defendant's return to court.

Bernstein says she has no experience representing a defendant at a bail hearing. “I worked primarily in civil law.”

She notes that her opponent has never practiced civil law.

Ferreira agrees, noting that when she became an audiologist, she “realized very quickly that I had to do a lot of work and learned a lot of things.” When it comes to becoming a judge, it all comes down to experience and qualifications. We deal with people’s lives.”

Ferreira says so Valdez Jimenez The decision “has had a huge impact on how I create the initial calendar of appearances every Sunday and every holiday.” I am very happy with the ruling as I understand what it means, what it says and how to apply the facts of the case to this can transfer certain judgment.”

Bernstein voices objections to the Clark County Jail's role as the largest mental health facility in Southern Nevada and as a detention center for the homeless.

“Those affected shouldn’t be there. “The staff is not prepared to help mentally ill people,” she says. “If we spend a certain amount of money to incarcerate someone, is that less or more than if we were to solve the problem?”

As a hearing expert, Ferreira does not convict any defendant.

She says specialty courts address issues of homelessness and mental health, “but they are only as good as the services we have available in our community.” Although we have many community partners who are incredible in these areas do work, the fact remains that our community is sorely lacking in resources when it comes to substance abuse, mental health and homelessness. Judges can only order people to participate in existing programs.”

Bernstein says she is concerned about the court's recent decision to eliminate resort corridor courts. Cases involving people banned from the Strip and downtown Las Vegas resort corridor are currently being heard in two dedicated divisions but will be split among eight courts beginning in November.

“I was pretty surprised,” she said of the verdict. “It would be a shame if Las Vegas were so dangerous that we lost tourism. Maybe it will work. Maybe it won’t.”

Bernstein recently found herself on the other side of a civil lawsuit when she was named in a federal lawsuit filed by her ex-husband Ed Bernstein, a well-known personal injury attorney. In 2022, Ed Bernstein accused his ex-wife and the Heidari Law Group, where she worked at the time, of violating trademark law by launching a website under the name Bernstein and Associates.

“Sam Heidari, for a short time and without my knowledge, issued a number of company names and created a website with the Secretary of State. I don’t even know how to do it,” she said.

The lawsuit alleged that Nancy Bernstein, who has been married and divorced twice since her divorce from Bernstein more than two decades ago and has practiced law under her new married name, used the Bernstein name for marketing purposes.

“He put all seven of my last names in the lawsuit, just for fun,” she said of her ex-husband, with whom she has two adult daughters. “I had no idea what was going on. I called him and said, 'Eddie. I don't know what you're talking about.'”

Nancy Bernstein quit her job at Heidari Law Group and her ex-husband dropped the case.

“I stayed out of it,” she said.

Bernstein has raised about $62,500 as of July and has $2,200 on hand. Ferreira raised around $59,000 and had $29,000 on hand.