Judge accused of bias in case involving Reno council member after sanctions issued against a defendant
Downtown Reno's Washoe County courthouse with the Second Judicial District Court. Bob Conrad / THIS IS RENO
By Nicole Fernandez, additional reporting by Bob Conrad & Kristen Hackbarth. Published with This is Reno.
An attorney representing Reno City Council member Devon Reese and his law partner and Reno Planning Commission member attorney Alex Velto filed a motion to disqualify District Court Judge Kathleen Sigurdson from presiding over their case.
They argue a recent sanctions order by Sigurdson shows bias against them in an ongoing lawsuit brought by Michael Leonard, a local known for online commentary. Leonard sued Reese, Velto and “Renoites” podcaster Conor McQuivey.
The motion, filed Oct. 22 by Las Vegas-based attorney Joseph Garin of the Garin Law Group, asked that Sigurdson recuse herself or be disqualified from presiding over the case for “actual or apparent prejudice.”
