About

About Judge Veronica Barisich

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Experienced. Fair. Committed to Clark County.

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Veronica Barisich is the Presiding Judge of Department 5 of the Eighth Judicial District Court in Clark County, Nevada. Elected by the voters in November 2020, she took the bench in January 2021 and has spent her first term handling a demanding docket involving complex civil litigation, medical malpractice matters, probate cases and other significant legal disputes.

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For Judge Barisich, serving on the bench is about more than deciding cases. It is about treating every person who enters her courtroom with dignity and respect, listening carefully to all sides, applying the law fairly and maintaining the integrity and independence of Nevada’s judiciary.

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A Wife, Mother and Member of Our Community

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Away from the courthouse, Veronica is a wife and mother who understands firsthand the importance of family, community and the everyday challenges faced by working Nevada families.

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Her husband is a small business owner, giving their family a personal appreciation for the commitment, long hours and responsibility that come with building and operating a business.

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Those experiences help keep Judge Barisich connected to the community she serves. Whether she is on the bench, spending time with her family or participating in the community, Veronica believes that public service begins with understanding and respecting the people whose lives are affected by the decisions government makes.

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An Experienced Nevada Attorney

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Before taking the bench, Judge Barisich spent more than 16 years practicing law in Nevada.

Her legal experience included civil litigation, family law, guardianship, probate, contract disputes, property matters and other areas of law. She handled cases from their earliest stages through resolution, giving her broad experience with the issues, attorneys, litigants and families who appear in District Court.

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Judge Barisich also served as a Small Claims Court Judge Pro Tem and as a member of the State Bar of Nevada Fee Dispute Committee.

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She is admitted to practice law in the State of Nevada and in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada.

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Professional & Bar Service

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Judge Barisich has maintained a longstanding commitment to Nevada's legal profession and to the standards expected of attorneys and judges.

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Her professional credentials and service include:

• Member of the State Bar of Nevada

• Admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of Nevada

• Former member of the State Bar of Nevada Fee Dispute Committee for a decade

• Former Small Claims Court Judge Pro Tem

• Continuing judicial education through the National Judicial College

• Specialized training in mediation and alternative dispute resolution

• Member of various organizations, including American Judges Association

 

Throughout her legal and judicial career, Judge Barisich has continued her professional education to remain current on developments in Nevada law, courtroom procedure, judicial ethics and the increasingly complex legal issues that come before the District Court.

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Experience on the Bench

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Department 5 handles a high-volume civil docket that includes significant and often complicated disputes. Judge Barisich also presides over two specialty courts: medical malpractice matters and probate cases.  She is one of nine medical malpractice judges and one of three probate judges in our court. 

District Court judges are frequently called upon to interpret statutes, evaluate evidence, resolve complicated questions of law and make decisions that can have significant consequences for individuals, families and businesses.

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Those decisions are also subject to Nevada's appellate process.

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During Judge Barisich's tenure, cases from Department 5 have been reviewed by the Nevada Supreme Court and Nevada Court of Appeals. Appellate review is an important part of the judicial system: some rulings are affirmed, some are affirmed in part, and others may be reversed or returned to the District Court for additional proceedings.

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Among Department 5 cases reviewed on appeal are decisions involving real property, contract disputes, tort and personal-injury claims, administrative law, defamation and other complex civil matters.

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For example, appellate courts have affirmed Department 5 rulings in cases involving quiet-title and foreclosure disputes and the dismissal of a defamation action. Other cases have resulted in mixed appellate decisions or remands for additional proceedings.

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The appellate process is part of the checks and balances built into our judicial system. Judge Barisich respects that process and the role of Nevada's appellate courts while continuing to carefully evaluate each case based on the law, the evidence and the individual circumstances before her.

 

Education & Early Experience

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Judge Barisich earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from James Madison College at Michigan State University.

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She later earned her Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Michigan.

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During her education, she gained practical legal and governmental experience working with private attorneys, a District Court judge and the Office of the Governor of Michigan.

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Those early experiences helped shape her understanding of the law not simply as an academic discipline, but as an institution that directly affects people's lives.

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Continuing Judicial Education

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Judge Barisich believes judges have an obligation to continue learning throughout their careers.

She regularly participates in continuing legal and judicial education and has completed courses through the National Judicial College, one of the nation's leading institutions devoted to the education and professional development of judges.

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She has also completed specialized mediation training, strengthening her understanding of alternative dispute resolution and the tools available to help parties resolve complicated disputes efficiently and fairly.

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Her Judicial Philosophy

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Judge Barisich believes a courtroom should be a place where everyone is treated fairly and respectfully — regardless of who they are, who represents them or which side of a case they are on.

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Her approach to the bench is guided by four principles:

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Fairness & Integrity

Every party deserves to be heard, and every decision should be based upon the law and the evidence.

 

Respect
Litigants, attorneys, witnesses, jurors and members of the public deserve to be treated with professionalism and dignity.

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Efficiency
Justice requires careful consideration, but courts must also recognize the value of people's time and resources.

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Independence
Judges must make decisions based upon the Constitution, Nevada law and the facts before them — never politics or outside pressure.

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Trusted to Serve

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Judge Veronica Barisich has spent her career in Nevada's legal community and the last six years serving the people of Clark County from the bench.

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She brings the perspective of an experienced attorney, judge, wife, mother and member of the community to Department 5 every day.

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Her commitment remains straightforward:

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Follow the law. Listen to every side. Treat people with respect. And deliver fair and impartial justice.