Council appoints Christopher Cannon as municipal court judge for Department 1

The council appointed Christopher Cannon as municipal court judge for Department 1 in a motion that passed at the Nov. 5 meeting. Cannon described more than 25 years' experience with the city police department, legal training at UNLV law school, internships with prosecuting and public-defender offices, and work representing criminal defendants and handling trials across Nevada.

"In summary, I believe that these experiences inside and outside of the courtroom have provided me with a layered view of criminal law, which will help me be a very fair, unbiased, and ethical judge for North Las Vegas," Cannon said. He told councilmembers he would resign his current role as general counsel for NAPSO if appointed and that he was prepared to begin immediately after swearing in.

Denise Ramos, the competing applicant and a longtime resident and veteran who has served as judge pro tem, emphasized her pro-tem experience, work as a managing attorney for family law matters, and commitment to treatment courts and access to justice. Ramos said she would focus on outreach and improving defendants' understanding of the consequences of pleas and on options such as after-hours or weekend dockets and continuing remote-access options where appropriate.

Councilmembers cited both candidates' strengths. Several members noted Ramos's pro-tem experience and bilingual skills; others favored Cannon's combination of law-enforcement background and legal experience and his readiness to begin. Councilmember-made motions led to Cannon's appointment to serve until Nov. 30, 2026; the council did not publish a detailed roll-call tally in the meeting transcript.