Tonopah Justice Jennifer Klapper sworn in as NJLJ president in Las Vegas

Jennifer Klapper, Tonopah’s Justice of the Peace, was sworn in as president of the Nevada Judges of Limited Jurisdiction during the organization’s Winter 2026 seminar in Las Vegas, an elevation that places a longtime local court official into a statewide leadership role affecting limited-jurisdiction courts.

Klapper has worked in the Tonopah court system since 1998 in multiple roles, including service as a clerk for the Tonopah Justice Court, and has served as Justice of the Peace since 2013 after peers urged her to run for the office. That local tenure underpins her new statewide responsibilities and gives Tonopah an experienced representative in conversations that shape training, best practices and administrative priorities for justice courts across Nevada.

Local officials honored Klapper in close succession to the NJLJ event. Town Board Chairman Don Kaminski presented Klapper with the Tonopah Outstanding Citizen Award at a recent town board meeting. Officials said Klapper was nominated for the award because of her “passion and commitment to the community.” The award recognizes long-term civic contributions and reinforces Klapper’s visibility in Tonopah public life.

Klapper serves beyond Nye County in judicial organizations. State court biographical material lists her on the Board of Governors for the American Judges Association and as president of the American Judges Foundation, and identifies her as president-elect of the NJLJ and a member of several committees. A social media post commenting on the Winter 2026 seminar said, “… Jennifer Klapper was sworn in as President of the Nevada Judges of Limited Jurisdiction! Congratulations, Judge Klapper!” Klapper also noted that the NJLJ position is determined by election and was “delighted to have been chosen by her fellow judges and justices of the peace.”

There is a timing discrepancy among available records: a Nevada courts biography refers to Klapper as president-elect, while the seminar program and social post indicate she has been sworn in. Confirmation from NJLJ officials or a seminar program would resolve the status and establish the effective start date for her term.

The local newspaper that covered Klapper’s award also ran routine community sports reporting the same week, including recognition of Tonopah High senior Remington Cobb and game results such as the Muckers’ 63–22 win over Beatty and a 56–33 victory at Indian Springs. That placement underscores how judicial leadership and everyday community life intersect in Tonopah’s civic coverage.

Klapper’s elevation to NJLJ leadership and her roles with national judicial organizations mean Tonopah will have a direct line into statewide discussions on court operations and limited-jurisdiction priorities. Residents should expect follow-up reporting on her agenda for NJLJ, the official start date of her term, and any initiatives she champions that affect access to local court services and court administration.