On April 18, retired Nevada Supreme Court Justice Abbi Silver was appointed to the Nevada Gaming Commission. She will replace outgoing Commissioner Ogonna Brown, who declined to serve four more years when her term expires later this month.
“Justice Silver is one of Nevada’s brightest visionaries and trailblazers, and I’m confident that she will greatly enhance the work of the commission in her new role,” said Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo in a statement published by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Silver is the only judge in Nevada history to serve on every court in the state’s judicial system, starting in Las Vegas Municipal Court in 2003, then moving to the Las Vegas Justice Court. She was next elected as a district court judge before being appointed by Gov. Brian Sandoval to the Inaugural Court of Appeals. She was the first woman judge elected to the Nevada Court of Appeals, and spent four years on the Supreme Court.
“I’m honored to be appointed to the Nevada Gaming Commission,” Silver said in a statement. “I’m grateful to Governor Lombardo for entrusting me with this dynamic role, and I look forward to serving our state.”
Brown, a partner with the Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie law firm in Las Vegas, was appointed by Gov. Steve Sisolak in 2020. She cited work demands as her reason for stepping down.
Control Board Chairman Kirk Hendrick commended Brown for her service, saying, “It’s been a pleasure for all of us and we wish you the best.”
“It’s been a true pleasure and I enjoyed every minute of it,” Brown responded. “It’s been the busiest time of my life and I enriched myself by learning about applicants from all over the world and meeting people who are way smarter than me and can teach me so much.”
She called the board “a well-oiled machine and the gold standard” of regulatory bodies.
Commission Chairwoman Jennifer Togliatti said the commission “will miss (Brown’s) financial expertise and willingness to ask really hard questions of folks. You do it with grace and we will miss that.” Board member George Assad added that he will miss her “sound judgment, legal acumen and bright smile.”
Nevada’s other gaming commissioners are Rosa Solis-Rainey, Brian Krolicki and George Markantonis.
