The Nevada Supreme Court has upheld the suspension of Pahrump Justice of the Peace Michele Fiore, a prominent conservative who was convicted of fraud but later pardoned by Donald Trump.
The unanimous ruling issued Friday ensures Fiore will remain suspended with pay while the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline continues investigating additional complaints against her. The commission had previously suspended her without pay following her conviction for using donations meant for a fallen officer’s memorial for personal use, but that suspension was lifted last spring after Trump granted her a pardon.
Members of the commission — a seven-person panel appointed by the governor, the Nevada Supreme Court, and the State Bar of Nevada — unanimously concluded last year that her apparent refusal to repay defrauded donors posed a “current, emergent threat to the judiciary.” They also stated that the suspension was justified due to newly filed complaints, though the details of those allegations remain confidential.
Fiore argued that the commission lacked the authority to impose the suspension, pointing to Nevada law that limits its jurisdiction to conduct occurring while someone serves as a judge. She noted that the actions tied to her fraud conviction took place before her appointment as a Pahrump judge. However, the commission stated in its order that the suspension also stemmed from allegations of misconduct during her time on the bench.
The state Supreme Court determined that the commission did have the authority to issue the interim suspension, as it remains in place while the investigation continues and no final disciplinary action has yet been decided.
“[A]t this early point in the process, it remains to be seen whether formal proceedings will be brought and whether any potential formal proceedings ‘are without or in excess’ of the Commission’s jurisdiction,” the ruling stated.
In a statement shared on her Facebook page Saturday, Michele Fiore said she is “ready to see” how the remainder of the disciplinary process unfolds.
“The Supreme Court didn’t decide who’s right, they just said the process wasn’t finished,” Fiore wrote. “While we are disappointed the Supremes chose not to address those issues now, this is not the end of the fight, it is simply the next step.”
Fiore — a former assemblymember, Las Vegas City Council member, and Republican nominee for treasurer — is seeking re-election this year and faces three challengers. She has received endorsements from Nevada GOP Chair Michael McDonald and Republican National Committeeman Jim DeGraffenreid, both of whom are among the six so-called “fake electors” who attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 United States presidential election.
Her fraud conviction stemmed from efforts tied to building a statue honoring Alyn Beck, a Las Vegas police officer killed in the line of duty in 2014. Prosecutors alleged that Fiore — while serving on the Las Vegas City Council — solicited donations through her PAC and nonprofit for the statue’s construction but instead used the funds for personal expenses, including rent and plastic surgery.
Dozens of witnesses testified during the trial, including Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, who said Fiore had requested donations for the statue while he served as Clark County sheriff. His campaign account issued a $5,000 check to Fiore’s PAC, and an FBI agent testified that shortly afterward, $5,000 was transferred to Fiore’s daughter’s account to purchase a money order covering Fiore’s rent.
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