Kendra Bertschy, a local criminal public defense attorney running for Reno Justice Court, Department 2, remembers the decisive moment that propelled her into compassionate commitments, including helping foster kids and troubled youths, both as a volunteer and in her work.
She pauses though, before answering, during our outdoor interview, with the Truckee River flowing behind us, and pedestrians walking by.
“When I was in college, my brother was diagnosed with cancer and I think that's a very strong driving factor and influence in my life and has led to a lot of the decisions,” she said, pausing again. “Unfortunately, he did not survive his fight with cancer. And I think part of that and that feeling of hopelessness that I had when we were trying to get him into treatment and trying to find something that worked for him really helped shape who I became. I never want anyone to feel like they are hopeless, like what I felt and what my family felt.”
In the competitive primary in June, Bertschy got 44% over the vote, to Bruce Hahn’s nearly 38%. Third place candidate Cotter Conway got 18% of the vote, leading to a Bertschy-Hahn face-off in November.
Hahn, has gotten endorsements from notable law enforcement figures in the community, current and recent, as well as since we did the interview, from Conway, and the far-right Franklin Project.
“I think that with my background of having worked with victims of crime, as well as those accused, I have a broad range of support as well from different organizations,” Bertschy said when asked about some of the law enforcement endorsements for her opponent. “I do have some law enforcement support as well. More importantly, I have support from members all over this community. I've been involved in this community. I currently serve on several nonprofit boards. I've led nonprofit boards. I've worked as a teacher, as an instructor at the University of Nevada, Reno. And so I think that my broad range of support really goes to show that what I want to do is serve this community and that my goal with becoming a Justice of the Peace is to make sure that what we are doing is actually benefiting society, benefiting our citizens, protecting and enhancing community safety.”
Her opponent in November Bruce Hahn has gotten endorsements from traditional law enforcement figures, but Bertschy still finished first in the primary.
On her campaign website, Bertschy mentions another turning point in her outlook. “I once represented a veteran who struggled greatly after returning home from fighting overseas,” the website kendraforjustice indicates. “He had gotten into some trouble, but the judge, in a move of great empathy, chose to give him a second chance by sending him to Veterans Court where he was connected with the services, supervision, and support he so desperately needed.”
Bertschy was impressed by the role the judge played in that case, making her want to be a justice of the peace herself.
“We were able to take the issue to the Nevada Supreme court,” she remembers. “We won, we expanded access to veteran specialty courts for all veterans, but the way that the judge handled this case in particular really made me value that role and want to have that impact to want to make sure that we are providing our community members with what they need to be successful. And sometimes that is giving them the accountability, but having the approach necessary to instill that want and that desire to be successful for my client. That's why he was successful. He ran a completely perfect program and now has reunified with his family, has stable employment, has a stable job, has stable housing, all things that he didn't have before coming in contact with that judge.”
Bertschy started her legal career by representing children victims of crime in foster care cases. “So I have that unique background of having worked both with victims of crime and those accused of them,” she explained. “I’ve worked on both sides of civil issues for plaintiff's firms, defense firms, and I've worked on both sides of eviction issues. I've worked for legal aid who are often those who assist with tenant rights and I've worked for real estate. So I have a very balanced perspective that I can bring to that bench.”
Judges in Reno Justice Courts handle traffic cases, small claims, evictions, civil cases and the start of criminal proceedings. “It's sometimes the first opportunity that somebody comes into contact with the justice system, whether it's in a positive or negative manner,” Bertschy explained. “And so that's why it's so important to know who you are electing, because this is the court where it's most likely that you or your loved one, your child, your family, your neighbor, they may … come to court for a traffic ticket. They may come to court because of an eviction matter or whatever. The reason is it's important to make sure that the outcomes or that they felt like they had access to justice, that their voice was heard. And that's what I want to do. I want to make sure that everyone has equal access to justice in my courtroom, that they leave feeling like they were heard, they were valued. They were treated with dignity and respect, which is what all citizens deserve.”
Her extended work with foster kids having experienced trauma gives her the ability “to recognize what is going on with individuals in my courtroom, which I think is a very unique position,” she said.
A runner and skier who loves nature, Bertschy wants to help shape a better Reno amid rapid change.
“Some of the things that I absolutely love about this community, I love the different organizations that I've worked with,” she said. “We have so many incredibly smart, talented individuals who all want to make sure that Reno progresses in the best way possible. Some of us may disagree with what they think is best, but I do think that, the community members that I have met all have great intentions with trying to move forward towards progress. It's been exciting to meet the voters and to hear about their concerns.”
A grave concern consists of being the lowest state in terms of access to mental health treatment and the number of providers. “That's something that Reno Justice Court can help assist with is to help access with resources and to make sure that we are addressing our mental health needs through specialty courts, mental health courts, through sentencing options. And just making sure that that is something that is looked at because it needs to change.”
Being a female candidate is important as well, Bertschy said, noting that in Nevada law schools, females are about half the students, but in Washoe County only 35% of attorneys are female. “There's something going on there,” she said. “And so we do still need to make sure that we are helping to mentor females in our legal profession to help guide them towards different opportunities like running for judge.”