Nye County Judge Michele Fiore Faces Three Disciplinary Charges Over Fraudulent Handling of Police Memorial Donations

Nye County Judge Michele Fiore is under fire once again, this time from the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline, which has filed three formal charges against her for violating the state’s judicial code of conduct. The charges stem from Fiore’s fraudulent handling of donations intended to fund a statue honoring two slain Las Vegas police officers.

Between 2019 and 2020, Fiore solicited money from donors, including current Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, to build the memorial. Instead of using the funds for their intended purpose, Fiore was found guilty by a federal jury of diverting the donations for personal use. President Donald Trump pardoned her shortly before sentencing, but the legal and ethical fallout continues.

The commission’s charges focus on Fiore’s failure to notify donors that their contributions could not be used as promised, nor did she seek their permission to repurpose or return the funds. According to the commission, this breach of trust and lack of transparency violates the judicial code’s requirements that judges comply with the law and avoid any appearance of impropriety.

“Judge Fiore’s ongoing wrongful retention of the donations and unjust enrichment creates in reasonable minds a perception that Judge Fiore’s honesty, impartiality, temperament or fitness to serve as a judge is adversely affected,” the commission states in its formal filing dated April 24.

Fiore’s attorney, Paola Armeni, pushes back, arguing that the commission lacks jurisdiction over conduct that occurred before Fiore assumed the bench. Armeni calls the disciplinary action “bootstrapping” pre-judicial conduct into judicial misconduct, insisting this case is “never about how Ms. Fiore conducts herself as a judge.”

Despite Fiore’s suspension with pay, she remains on the ballot for her current position as a Pahrump justice of the peace, facing three challengers. The Nevada Supreme Court has already affirmed the commission’s authority to suspend Fiore pending investigation but has yet to rule on the full disciplinary proceedings.

The next steps include a formal response from Fiore’s legal team and a hearing where both sides will present their cases. Given the high-profile nature of this dispute and Fiore’s controversial history, the case is likely to return to the Nevada Supreme Court for a final decision.

This saga highlights the ongoing challenges of holding elected officials accountable, especially when political loyalty and legal maneuvering intersect. Fiore’s persistence in office despite a fraud conviction and now formal charges underscores the urgent need for robust oversight mechanisms in the judiciary.

For a judge tasked with upholding the law, Fiore’s alleged misconduct raises serious questions about integrity and fitness for office. The outcome of this case will be a critical test of Nevada’s commitment to judicial accountability and the rule of law.