James Carmany is court administrator for the Las Vegas Municipal Court. As court administrator, he reports to the chief judge and city manager; oversees a staff of 184 and manages a $23.8 million budget.  In addition to processing traffic and misdemeanor cases, the Municipal Court operates counseling services, a substance abuse Evaluation Center and a Traffic School. The court handles approximately 190,000 cases per year.  Among Mr. Carmany’s many years of experience and expertise, he has been the Director of Clark County Juvenile Court (now Family and Youth Services) for Nevada’s Eighth Judicial District Court; Trainer and Consultant for the National College of Juvenile Justice, National College of Trial Judges, and the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

Chief Judge Bert Brown
Las Vegas Municipal Court, Department 4

Chief Judge Bert Brown graduated from the McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific in Sacramento, California. While attending law school, he clerked for United States District Court Judge Philip Pro, then magistrate, and the United States Attorney’s Office where he argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

His career began in 1988, as a law clerk for the Honorable Jack Lehman, district court judge. In May of 1989, he joined the law firm of Brown and Kane, CHTD., and in 1991 he and his father started the firm of Brown and Brown where he had a general law practice. In 1994 he began presiding as an arbitrator. From 1997 he served as a justice of the peace pro tempore for Clark County, Nevada, appointed by the Clark County Commission. Judge Brown was elected as Las Vegas Municipal Court Judge, Department 4, on June 8, 1999, and has been re-elected each term since then.

Judge Brown was born into a family with a strong tradition of public service. His grandfather Senator B. Mahlon Brown served as Majority Leader and Member of the Nevada State Senate for 26 years. His father B. Mahlon Brown, III was united states attorney from Nevada (1977-1981). Both his grandfather and father were justices of the peace for Las Vegas, Nevada. Judge Brown’s great-great-grandfather, Halle Hewitson, was Las Vegas’ first doctor in 1904.

In 1993 he was appointed by then Nevada Governor Bob Miller to serve as a commissioner on the Nevada State Commission on Substance Abuse, Education, Prevention, Enforcement and Treatment. He was a trustee, past president and vice president of the Board of Trustees for Nevada Treatment Center, Inc., a nonprofit substance abuse treatment organization. He is a member of the Nevada Judges Association and member and trustee of the American Judges Association.

Judge Brown and wife, Deanna, are the proud parents of two daughters: Halle Elizabeth, born in August 1999, and Hannah, born October 2001.

Councilman Ricki Barlow  
Las Vegas City Council

Councilman Ricki Y. Barlow, a lifelong resident of the Las Vegas valley, was sworn into office on June 20, 2007. Having been a resident of Las Vegas for more than 30 years, he knows intimately the unique character of this part of southern Nevada.

Councilman Barlow began his interest in government at an early age, serving as student body president at Vocational-Technical High School. After graduating from UNLV with a degree in political science, he continued to pursue public service when he served as a legislative aide in Washington, D.C. to then-U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan. In Washington, the future councilman got to see first hand the importance and honor of representing constituents as an elected official.

Upon returning to Las Vegas, he turned his love of public service into a career when he joined the City of Las Vegas Mayor and Council Office. As a council liaison, he was instrumental in helping implement numerous projects, including efforts to revitalize neighborhoods and clean up blighted areas, repave and rebuild streets to improve traffic flow, help get more police patrols in Ward 5 neighborhoods and bring economic diversity to the area.

Councilman Barlow has held numerous community positions in recent years including: member, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Gang Task Force and Citizens Advisory Police Academy; chairman of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, Board of Trustees; the director of Educational Affairs-Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.; director of Men & Divas of Tomorrow Youth Program; district executive of the Boy Scouts of America; and director of the Welfare to Work program at Westcare Drug Treatment Center.

Over the years, Councilman Barlow has received awards and accolades for his community service including the Community Partners “Portrait of Pride” Award, Nevada Library Association Trustee of the Year and Clark County School District PAL Program Supervisor of the Year.

Judge Cedric A. Kerns
Las Vegas Municipal Court, Department 5

Judge Cedric A. Kerns was elected to Las Vegas Municipal Court, Department 5 in June of 1997. 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 appointed a 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 re-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 it 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's 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.  

Susan Still
American Women’s Rights Activist

Keynote speaker, Susan Still, a women’s rights activist attended college in Buffalo, New York, where she met and married blues guitarist Ulner Lee Still. Ms. Still survived 23 years of verbal, emotional and physical abuse by her husband. In December 2004, New York State Supreme Court Justice John F. O’Donnell handed Ulner Still a 36-year prison sentence. The grounds were six counts of assault in the second degree, six counts of assault in the third degree and two counts endangering the welfare of a child. This became the longest sentence given to the crime of domestic violence that did not result in the death of the victim in the state of New York. Ms. Still appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show to bring awareness to domestic violence against women. The show aired a home video recorded by the Stills’ 13 year-old son of a 51 minute long verbal and physical assault on Ms. Still by her husband. Ms. Still has gained recognition among groups that campaign against violence against women, served as keynote speaker in Houston for the National College of District Attorneys and shared her courageous story of survival with Diane Sawyer on “20/20.” Ms. Still is now a victims’ rights advocate and respected authority on violence and the criminal justice response, and conducts trainings for domestic violence advocates.

Mayor Oscar B. Goodman
City of Las Vegas

In April 2007, Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, the 19th mayor of Las Vegas, captured 84 percent of the vote in his re-election effort to a third 4-year term.

As mayor, he was successful in acquiring a large piece of urban real estate in the city without resorting to eminent domain. Union Park, a phenomenal 61-acre planned development, will include the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, a 350,000 square-foot The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, multiple high residential units, business and retail opportunities. Downtown is undergoing a dramatic change, evolving into a vibrant place for living, working and enjoying entertainment and art venues. Bounding Union Park are the World Market Center and the Las Vegas Premium Outlets mall. The World Market Center is a state-of-the-art home furnishings trade show facility. When complete, the complex will exceed 12 million square feet with eight buildings. The outlet mall is the most successful of its kind for dollar-per-square-foot income. In addition, there are almost 18,000 living spaces being planned for construction in downtown. Also, for the first time in many years, multi-million dollar casino and hotel renovations and expansions are currently underway.

Mayor Goodman has been a champion of downtown revitalization, focusing his efforts on creating a downtown urban village filled with small businesses, boutiques, fine restaurants, bookstores and an art component where the public can have social dialogue and exchange ideas.

Mayor Goodman serves as the chairman of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and feverishly works to promote the enticing destination of Las Vegas. Mayor Goodman has also started OPAC, Oscar’s Political Action Committee, to promote and protect the interests of Las Vegas. His first action was to donate $50,000 to the Keep Memory Alive Foundation, the “think tank” foundation for the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute.

The self-proclaimed “happiest mayor in the universe,” Goodman was born and raised in Philadelphia, graduating from Haverford College and receiving his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He has become one of the nation’s premier criminal defense attorneys, having been named one of the “15 Best Trial Lawyers in America” by the National Law Journal. He has also been featured in numerous publications such as “Of Rats and Men” and even portrayed himself in the movie “Casino.” Mayor Goodman also serves on the Advisory Board of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Goodman and his wife of 45 years, Carolyn, moved to Las Vegas in 1964 with $87 in their pockets. The couple raised four children in Las Vegas. All four currently make Las Vegas their home. All were educated in Las Vegas and went on to acquire college and graduate level degrees.

Elynne Wernikove-Greene
Victims and Witnesses Advocate, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

Elynne Wernikove-Greene is a victims and witnesses advocate for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (METRO). She has been a member of METRO for more than 14 years where she has received extensive training in victim services and issues.  Some of her responsibilities with METRO include crisis intervention and completing needs assessments for victims and witnesses from all crime categories. She is a post certified advanced instructor and is involved with ongoing program development.  Mrs. Wernikove-Greene also represents METRO on state and local task forces and committees. She participates in the planning of Victim Rights’ Week activities for Clark County and serves as a liaison with law enforcement and community agencies on behalf of crime victims and witnesses. Mrs. Wernikove-Greene holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Expressive Arts in Therapy and a Master’s Degree in Special Education; both degrees are from Lesley College in Cambridge, MA.

Catherine Jones
Associate Supervisor/Paramedic, American Medical Response Company

Catherine Jones, an associate supervisor/paramedic, has been with American Medical Response Company (AMR) for nineteen years. She has been a CPR and Pediatric Advanced Life Support instructor. She currently is the lead coordinator for AMR’s Critical Incident Management Team. One week every summer she volunteers as “camp nurse” for the Royal Family Kids Camp, a camp for severely abused children in the Clark County foster care system.  

Sandra Dieterich-Hughes
S.A.F.E (Stop Abuse in the Family Environment) House

Sandra Dieterich-Hughes graduated from UNLV School of Social Work earning her Bachelor’s in 1992 and her Master’s in 1994. She completed her clinical internship and became licensed in August 2000. Mrs. Dieterich-Hughes has worked at S.A.F.E. House in Henderson, Nevada, for 10½ years, and has been supervising the Batterer’s Treatment Program since 2000. She has 25 years experience working with abuse and neglect victims; starting her professional career at St. Jude’s Ranch for Children in Boulder City, Nevada, leaving there in 1997 after 14 years. She also worked for Nevada Children’s Behavioral Services’ Oasis Program for three years and has extensive training and experience working with special needs children and adolescents.

S.A.F.E. House, founded in 1994, is a nonprofit organization located in Henderson and serving all of Clark County. It is committed to stopping abuse in the family environment by providing counseling, advocacy, education, crisis intervention and shelter services for victims and their children. S.A.F.E. House also has male and female perpetrator groups for court-ordered clients, CPS referrals, and voluntary clients who want to learn about domestic violence.

Judge Betsy B. Kolkoski
Las Vegas Municipal Court, Department 2

Judge Betsy Kolkoski was appointed to Las Vegas Municipal Court, Department 2 during the July 5, 2000 meeting of the Las Vegas City Council. In April of 2001, she was elected to a four-year term and was re-elected in 2005. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Kolkoski served as an elder rights attorney for the Nevada Division of Aging Services for seven years. She was first appointed by then-Governor Bob Miller and reappointed by Governor Kenny Guinn. During her tenure, Judge Kolkoski was responsible for elder rights issues including guardianship, elder abuse and legal services development. She provided legal counsel to seniors, technical assistance and training to law enforcement and assistance to wards in contested guardianships.

Judge Kolkoski previously served as a hearing officer for the Nevada Taxicab Authority and the Nevada and Colorado departments of education, as well as practiced law in the private sector for nearly 20 years. She earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1971 from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and a bachelor of arts in economics from Waterloo Lutheran University in Ontario, Canada in 1968. Judge Kolkoski and her husband Richard have been married for nearly 29 years and have two children.

Dr. Edwin Hutchinson, PhD., LCSW
Executive Director, AMEND Center

Dr. Edwin Hutchinson is the founder and executive director of the AMEND Center, the first comprehensive men’s treatment center in the state of Idaho with a principal focus on domestic violence treatment for men and women and family preservation counseling services. Dr. Hutchinson is a licensed, clinical social worker with more than thirty-two years of experience in group and individual psychotherapy with men, women, adolescents and their families. He has training and experience in psychological testing, assessments and crisis intervention and specialized training in substance abuse treatment and dysfunctional families. He specializes in individual and group psychotherapy with men who batter. Dr. Hutchinson is also trained in crisis intervention and emergency mental health assessment and intervention. He is a certified mediator for the Supreme Court of Idaho. Dr. Hutchinson’s professional accomplishments include developing the BSW Social Worker education program for Lewis Clark State College; designing the community social services and mental health centers for the states of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, and secured funding for the first Domestic Violence (non-shelter) Program in the state of New Jersey.

Nancy Roget
Director, Substance Abuse Technologies, University of Nevada, Reno

Nancy Roget is the current director of the Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she serves as administrator for more than 50 staff and as the principal investigator of two current state and federal grants in alcohol and other drug prevention, treatment and recovery fields. Prior to coming to the university in 1994, Ms. Roget was the executive director of the largest adolescent substance abuse treatment program in Nevada. She is also a contributing author on four industry publications. She is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor and marriage and family therapist.

Barbara Belcher, BA, CADC
Court Counselor II, Alternative Sentencing and Education Division, Las Vegas Municipal Court

Barbara Belcher has been an employee of the Las Vegas Municipal Court for more than 20 years and currently serves as a court counselor II in the Alternative Sentencing and Education Division. During Ms. Belcher’s tenure with the court, she has instructed domestic violence classes and has been instrumental in assisting with the development of the domestic violence curriculum. She is a certified alcohol and drug counselor, a nationally certified addiction counselor and a certified domestic violence counselor through the National Association of Forensic Counselors. Ms. Belcher has assisted with the planning of the court’s annual Domestic Violence Conference since its inception seven years ago. Her passion in working in the area of domestic violence stems from her personal experience as a domestic violence victim more than 20 years ago.

Nancy Kennehan, LCSW, LADC
Court Counselor II, Alternative Sentencing and Education Division, Las Vegas Municipal Court

Nancy Kennehan is a court counselor II for the Las Vegas Municipal Court’s Alternative Sentencing and Education Division (ASED). She is also ASED's domestic violence supervisor and mental health evaluator. Ms. Kennehan received her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology at the University of New York at Oswego and her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Buffalo. Before moving to Las Vegas and joining ASED in 2002, Ms. Kennehan worked for 12 plus years in the mental health field in New York.  She performed case management for mentally ill and developmentally challenged populations and worked as a therapist in mental health counseling for individuals with a variety of acute and chronic conditions. 

Paul Reeves
Executive Director, Options Counseling Program

Paul Reeves has been the executive director for the Options Counseling Program in Las Vegas since its inception in 1990. The organization has been working with the domestic violence perpetrator population since 1995. His work with the Domestic Violence Committee has been on-going since the Domestic Violence Standards were written and were later adopted in 1998 and put into law.  Mr. Reeves works to ensure the agency is in compliance with the Attorney General’s office concerning client-related matters. Options Counseling Program is also a certified evaluation center for substance abuse. As such, Mr. Reeves is the primary counselor completing DUI evaluations and providing recommendations to the court. Born, raised and educated in Las Vegas, he holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Services, a CADC-Provisional license for Substance Abuse and is a Certified Professional Collector Instructor (CPCI). 

Julio Landero, MSW, NCAC
Executive Director, ABC Therapy

Julio Landero is the executive director for ABC Therapy, El Programa via Milagro, and is recognized by the State of Nevada Domestic Violence Committee. He received his Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Mr. Landero is also a member of the esteemed National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)—the new name of which is, NAADAC, The Association for Addition Professionals. The agency provides outpatient services in the areas of domestic violence; chemical dependency; anger management and impulse control, which are also available in English and Spanish.

Mary McCrea Leonard
Director, Mesa Family Counseling

Mary McCrea Leonard is director of a Las Vegas counseling agency, Mesa Family Counseling. This agency offers education courses in anger management, impulse control and petty larceny, and treatment programs in the fields of domestic violence and alcohol/drug.

Ms. Leonard worked with the National Counsel on Alcoholism for nine years in Topeka, Kansas, working in the fields of prevention and employee assistance programming.  Simultaneously, Ms. Leonard served as president of the Battered Women’s Task Force, helping to develop an in-school domestic violence prevention program that was implemented in all high schools in Topeka, Kansas.

Ms. Leonard received her undergraduate degree in Social Work through Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, completing her Master’s in Administration of Justice at Wichita State University. She has been a resident of Las Vegas since 1989.

Return to Domestic Violence Conference page