Candidates vie for Family Court judge seats

An unpopular judge with a disciplinary history appeared on track to win re-election in Clark County Family Court, while a judge who oversaw a deadly custody battle was lagging a challenger.

As in Clark County District Court, many Family Court candidates ran with no opponent.

Voters had a choice between an attorney disciplined by the Nevada Supreme Court and a judge publicly censured by the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline in Department P.

Incumbent Family Court Judge Mary Perry was the second lowest scorer on the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s 2025 Judicial Performance Evaluation. Just 35.1 percent of attorneys who provided anonymous feedback wanted her to stay on the bench.

Her opponent, attorney Jennifer Isso, received a stayed suspension of her law license in April after several judges referred her for discipline. She was ordered to receive training in substance abuse and mental health issues.

Both have faced criticism for their behavior in court, including shouting during hearings. Perry was ahead with 52.9 percent of the vote early Wednesday.

In Department R, attorney Marilyn Caston, who led a three-way primary, but not by enough to win outright earlier this year, challenged longtime Family Court Judge Bill Henderson, who presided over the custody battle between Dylan Houston and Ashley Prince that led to a deadly law office shooting in 2024.

At an April 2024 deposition in that case, Houston’s father, attorney Joseph Houston, fatally shot Ashley Prince and her husband, Las Vegas attorney Dennis Prince, who was representing her. Joseph Houston then killed himself.

Henderson, who did not have an opponent when he ran for re-election in 2020 or 2014, saw his score in the Review-Journal plummet after the shooting. His retention rating dropped 22 percentage points to 50.5 percent in 2025.

Early Wednesday, Caston was ahead with 60.33 percent of the vote.

In Department D, attorney Patricia Marr faced off against Gwynneth Smith, a chief deputy district attorney who handles cases involving children, competing for an open seat vacated by the retirement of Family Court Judge Robert Teuton.

Smith was leading with 56.8 percent of the vote early Wednesday.

Department E Family Court Judge Charles Hoskin was trying to hold onto the seat he has held since 2009, facing a challenge from attorney Timothy Treffinger, a former Republican candidate for district attorney.

Hoskin was ahead with 70.26 percent of votes early Wednesday.

In one of the more bizarre election moves of this cycle, Department N candidate Paul Michel Gaudet opted to appear on the ballot under his middle name “Michel” in what he suggested was an attempt to obtain the boost female candidates often have in Clark County judicial contests.

Gaudet previously lost the seat to now-incumbent Family Court Judge Kerri Maxey in 2024.

Maxey was leading with 65.1 percent Wednesday.

Attorney Kristine Brewer and Hearing Master Randall Forman competed for an open seat in Department S. Brewer, whom the Nevada Commission on Judicial Selection previously declined to recommend for the post, was leading with 54.3 percent early Wednesday.

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Contact Noble Brigham at [email protected].