North Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Natalie Tyrrell has been named Chief Judge of North Las Vegas Justice Court.
Her two-year term began Jan. 4. Justice courts with three or more judges are required to elect a chief judge. This will be Judge Tyrrell’s third term as chief; she previously served from 2009 through 2012, and 2015 through 2016.
Tyrrell has been the North Las Vegas Justice Court Department 2 Justice of the Peace since January 2001 and was the first woman to be a judge in North Las Vegas. She was re-elected in 2006, 2012 and 2018.
In 2002, Tyrrell created the outreach program KIDS IN THE COURT in partnership with C.P. Squires Elementary School, an at-risk school in North Las Vegas. This program educates fifth graders about the court system with an emphasis on careers and the importance of staying in school.
Prior to her election, Tyrrell spent almost nine years as an Elder Law attorney with the city of Las Vegas Senior Citizens Law Project. She also served as an attorney arbitrator for the state of Nevada.
Judge Tyrrell currently serves on the Board of Governors for the American Judges Association. In 2018 she received the AJA Education Award honoring her Kids in the Court Program. Tyrrell is licensed to practice law in Nevada, Minnesota and before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Justice Court handles misdemeanors, traffic matters, and felony arraignments; civil disputes under $15,000; small claims and landlord tenant disputes.
Last year, North Las Vegas Justice Court handled over 11,000 cases.
