The Decision
A Nevada judge will stay off the bench for now, even after receiving a presidential pardon. The Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline voted Monday to keep Michele Fiore suspended with pay from her position as justice of the peace in Pahrump.
Last month, President Donald Trump pardoned Fiore, who had been convicted of wire fraud charges. The case involved donations meant for a statue honoring a fallen police officer. Despite the pardon, the seven-member commission decided unanimously that Fiore should not return to the courtroom just yet.
In their ruling, the commission said Fiore still represents “a substantial threat of serious harm to the public and to the administration of justice.” They noted that new complaints have been filed against her, though they didn’t share the details of these complaints.
Read our prior coverage:
Commission Decides Michele Fiore’s Future as Pahrump Judge
“They Kept Saying Plastic Surgery”: Michele Fiore Tells All After Trump Pardon
Trump Pardons Former Las Vegas Councilwoman Michele Fiore After Fraud Conviction
Background on the Case
Fiore was originally convicted in October on six counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The charges stemmed from her time as a Las Vegas city councilwoman, when she collected donations that were meant to build a statue honoring Alyn Beck, a police officer killed in the line of duty in 2014.
Prosecutors said Fiore used the money for personal expenses instead. During the trial, witnesses testified that donation money went toward her rent and cosmetic procedures. One key witness was Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, who said he donated $5,000 to Fiore’s political action committee for the statue when he was Clark County sheriff.
According to testimony from an FBI agent, shortly after Lombardo’s donation, $5,000 was transferred to Fiore’s daughter’s account and used for a money order covering Fiore’s rent.
The Legal Arguments
At a hearing earlier this month, Fiore’s lawyer, Paola Armeni, argued that the suspension would be “an abuse of discretion.” She said the presidential pardon should protect Fiore from all punishment related to the case.
The lawyer also pointed out that the commission had previously ruled it doesn’t have authority over conduct that happened when someone wasn’t yet a judge. Since the fraudulent activity happened while Fiore was a city councilwoman, not a judge, Armeni argued the commission shouldn’t have jurisdiction.
“There is nothing before this commission about her conduct as a judge,” Armeni said during the hearing.
“It’s dangerous precedent, and it circumvents not only the presidential pardon, but the use of this conduct that’s not related to her being a judge at all.”
Commission’s Response
The commission rejected these arguments. In their ruling, they said Fiore had not fixed the wrongs from her conviction.
The ruling stated:
“[Fiore] continued to defraud the donors by keeping donations to which she was not entitled and continued to fail to notify them she used their funds for personal expenses instead of for the statue,”
The commission also mentioned they had received emails questioning Fiore’s “honesty and her ability to perform the duties of a justice of the peace.”
Fiore’s Background and Support
Fiore has been a notable figure in Nevada politics for over a decade. She was first elected to the state Assembly in 2012. She later won a seat on the Las Vegas City Council in 2017 and became the city’s mayor pro tempore.
During the recent hearing, her lawyer argued that Fiore has strong community support. According to Armeni, Fiore has the backing of former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones Blackhurst, current Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom, and former Las Vegas City Councilman Ricki Barlow.
Armeni also highlighted Fiore’s community work, such as back-to-school drives and handwritten thank-you notes to firefighters.
“I would submit to the commission that a fourth of her service to the community is more than most people will ever do in their lifetime,” Armeni said.
What Happens Next
The case now enters a waiting period. The commission has not set a date for when they will review the additional complaints against Fiore.
If the commission decides to lift the suspension, Fiore would be able to return to her position as justice of the peace in Pahrump. If they rule against her, the suspension could become permanent, effectively removing her from the bench despite the presidential pardon.
The case raises interesting questions about the relationship between presidential pardons and state disciplinary actions. While a presidential pardon clears someone of federal criminal charges, it may not shield them from professional consequences at the state level.
For now, the people of Pahrump will continue to have temporary judicial arrangements while Fiore remains suspended with pay. The Nevada courts system will need to ensure cases in her jurisdiction continue to move forward during this period of uncertainty.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
