Suspended Pahrump Justice Michele Fiore Files For Re‑election

Michele Fiore, the suspended justice of the peace in Pahrump, formally filed to run for re‑election on Jan. 7, 2026, according to records on the Nevada Secretary of State site. Her filing launches a short window for voters to weigh a high‑profile candidacy: the judicial filing period runs through Jan. 16.

Fiore’s candidacy arrives amid a complicated legal and disciplinary history. A federal jury convicted her of conspiracy and wire fraud in 2024. The Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline suspended her from the bench following that conviction, and she has since pursued appeals and other requests for relief through the courts. President Donald Trump later issued a full, unconditional pardon. Fiore and her campaign say they want voters to decide for themselves despite her suspended status, arguing that the suspension and court processes could otherwise cloud voters’ view of her candidacy.

The filing raises practical and political questions for Nye County residents. Justice court handles a steady stream of local matters, from traffic and small claims to preliminary hearings. A suspended justice leaves administrative and operational issues for county leaders to manage, and the outcome of this election could affect how quickly those roles are clarified. For voters, the filing places the decision squarely in their hands during the current filing period.

Timing matters. With the filing deadline only days away, voters, civic groups and local officials have limited time to digest Fiore’s legal history alongside her record on the bench. The combination of a federal conviction, disciplinary suspension and an executive pardon is uncommon in local judicial races, making this contest a focal point for debates about accountability, rehabilitation, and the standards to which elected judges should be held.

As the election approaches, residents seeking clarity on the status of the justice court and implications for local cases should monitor filings and any notices from county court administration. The coming weeks will determine whether Fiore’s name will appear on the ballot and will shape a wider conversation in Pahrump about the intersection of criminal convictions, executive clemency and local judicial elections.