Judge Cedric A. Kerns

Department 5

Judge Cedric A. Kerns was elected to Las Vegas Municipal Court, Department 5 in June of 1997. 

Judge Kerns came to Las Vegas in 1985 to attend the University of Nevada Las Vegas where he was a member of the nationally ranked debate team before graduating in 1989. He received his Juris Doctor in 1992 from the University of San Diego.

Prior to being elected, Judge Kerns was a partner and co-founder of the Law Office of Kerns and Lybarger, where he focused on criminal defense and domestic law. While in private practice, Judge Kerns was an appointed member of the Nevada Supreme Court Task Force for the “Study of Economic Bias” in the justice system.

Judge Kerns is a member of the American Judges Association where he has served as delegate and governor representing the state of Nevada. He is also a member of the Nevada Judges Association where he served as a member of the Board of Directors as well as the President for the year 2005. Judge Kerns was chosen as Outstanding Judge of the Year for 2006 by the Nevada Judges Association.

Additionally, Judge Kerns is a member of the Judicial Council of the State of Nevada, which serves as an administrative arm of the Supreme Court, and the Court Funding Commission of the Supreme Court, which has been examining the resources necessary for the operation of the judiciary.

Judge Kerns is the presiding Judge over Las Vegas Municipal Court’s HOPE Court. This is a specialized court that focuses on habitual offenders. The Court has been featured in the local media because of its success.

Judge Kerns is also the Las Vegas Municipal Court liaison for Domestic Violence offenders. As liaison, Judge Kerns has been instrumental in the Municipal Court Domestic Violence probation program, as well as obtaining federal grants for a domestic violence marshal and for pre-sentence investigations of defendants in Municipal Court.

Judge Kerns is married to Rebecca and has four children – Tiffani, Brittani, Chad and Nicole.