Rhonda K. Forsberg

Forsberg worked in insurance for twenty years, including fulltime employment at The Leavitt Insurance Agency during law school.

September 8, 2026

Source: clarkcountycourts.us

Forsberg worked as an associate at Radford J. Smith, Chartered, later known as Smith Forsberg, after law school.

September 8, 2026

Source: clarkcountycourts.us

Forsberg worked as a law clerk at Radford J. Smith, Chartered, while completing her law degree.

September 8, 2026

Source: clarkcountycourts.us

Forsberg found abuse and neglect causing emotional harm after a hearing with evidence. She awarded the mother sole custody and ordered supervised visits for the father. The Court of Appeals upheld the ruling, finding no demonstrated unfairness or bias. It presumed the missing transcripts supported the ruling.

September 3, 2026

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Forsberg was designated lead judge for Family Court cases concerning child abuse or neglect, effective August 17, 2026.

August 12, 2026

Source: nvbar.org

Began a three-year term representing the Clark region on Nevada's Judicial Council.

January 5, 2026

Source: nvcourts.gov

Lawyers gave Forsberg’s legal ability a score of 4.14 out of 5 in the Review-Journal’s 2025 performance survey. The legal questions each received 62 or 63 responses.

December 7, 2025

Source: reviewjournal.com

Forsberg volunteered with the Salt Lake Rape Recovery Center during college.

March 3, 2023

Source: nvbar.org

Forsberg was appointed chair of the Family Court’s committee for its list of outside service providers.

March 3, 2023

Source: nvbar.org

Forsberg served on the board of Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth.

March 3, 2023

Source: nvbar.org

Forsberg served in the Family Court’s program for settling disputes, called the Settlement Master’s Program.

March 3, 2023

Source: nvbar.org

Forsberg served as a judge for a program addressing missed school days, called the Truancy Diversion Program.

March 3, 2023

Source: nvbar.org

Forsberg joined a court committee examining access to justice in guardianship cases concerning the legal care of children.

February 22, 2023

Source: clarkcountycourts.us

A federal appeals court upheld dismissal of a lawsuit against Forsberg challenging her custody rulings, citing limits on federal review.

December 15, 2022

Source: supremecourt.gov

An appeals court upheld dismissal of a defamation lawsuit against Forsberg. It applied legal protection for her statements in a custody case.

May 27, 2022

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Kept an agreed custody schedule, denied a request to set aside the later order, and adjusted legal fees. The Court of Appeals upheld that denial because Gray challenged earlier decisions instead of the denial being reviewed.

December 29, 2021

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Administered Judge Michele Mercer's oath in a hospital on January 4, 2021. Mercer then began serving in family court.

January 4, 2021

Source: clarkcountycourts.us

Forsberg won the 2020 Family Court Department G election with 489,981 votes, receiving 69.60 percent of votes cast.

November 3, 2020

Source: elections.clarkcountynv.gov

The Las Vegas Sun endorsed Forsberg for Family Court Department G in the 2020 general election.

September 23, 2020

Source: lasvegassun.com

The Las Vegas Review-Journal endorsed Forsberg for a full term in Family Court Department G in the 2020 general election.

September 14, 2020

Source: reviewjournal.com

The Asian American Group endorsed Forsberg for Family Court Department G in the 2020 general election.

September 11, 2020

Source: asianamericangroup.org

Forsberg received a $300 gift from Ford & Friedman for a gala at the Paris Hotel.

November 21, 2019

Source: disclosures.nvcourts.nv.gov

Forsberg served on the State Bar of Nevada’s Family Law Section Executive Council.

May 2, 2019

Source: nvbar.org

Governor Steve Sisolak appointed Forsberg to the Eighth Judicial District Court’s Family Division, Department G.

April 15, 2019

Source: nvcourts.gov

Forsberg joined the court’s Technology Improvement Committee, formed to identify technology problems and develop solutions and upgrades.

August 25, 2017

Source: clarkcountycourts.us

Forsberg volunteered for a court committee reviewing document retention rules for lawyers using electronic filing and paperless offices.

July 22, 2010

Source: nvbar.org

Forsberg served as a temporary hearing officer for domestic violence and protection orders before becoming a judge. She also handled disputes over sharing information in family court cases.

September 8, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: clarkcountycourts.us

Forsberg placed a child with established caregivers and granted the grandfather visitation intended to continue after adoption. The Supreme Court ordered removal of the visitation provision under the grandparent-visitation law. Parental rights had not been surrendered or terminated. The court left possible authority under child-protection law unresolved.

November 20, 2025Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Expanded a father’s unsupervised visitation and required the mother to pay all travel costs because she had relocated. The Supreme Court upheld visitation but reversed the travel-cost ruling, requiring consideration of child support guidelines and both parents’ finances.

November 27, 2024Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Forsberg ordered the school district to disclose all stored emails mentioning a child to the child’s educational decision maker. On reconsideration, the Supreme Court cancelled the ruling, finding ordinary emails were not automatically education records.

May 30, 2024Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Awarded $45,503.17 in legal fees and costs after a custody and school dispute. The Court of Appeals initially reversed for unclear findings. Supplied additional findings about unnecessary litigation and restored the award, which the appellate court upheld.

July 31, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Forsberg accepted appointment to represent parents with low incomes in juvenile court cases concerning child abuse or neglect.

March 3, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: nvbar.org

Forsberg provided free legal help to children in abuse and neglect cases.

March 3, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: nvbar.org

Placed the child primarily with Ahyang and gave both parents authority over major decisions after a two-day hearing. Made detailed findings about the child’s best interests and denied Warren’s request for a new trial. The Court of Appeals upheld the custody and evidence rulings, finding them supported by the record.

March 23, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Divided marital real estate, denied spousal support, and later awarded the wife her entire retirement account. Found the husband had depleted marital assets for another family. The Supreme Court upheld the divorce order and later property order.

November 21, 2021Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Forsberg awarded $1,500 in legal fees for unnecessary litigation. She declined a request to punish Thomas for disobeying court orders. The Court of Appeals rejected her challenge, finding authority to charge fees for conduct that caused unnecessary litigation.

October 26, 2021Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Signed an order changing divorce terms and awarding lifetime spousal support from veterans’ disability benefits. A senior judge conducted the hearing. The Court of Appeals reversed for improper reopening of the divorce order and conflict with federal protections for disability benefits.

September 30, 2021Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Dismissed a Nevada divorce case after discussing a related California case with its judge outside the parties’ presence. The Supreme Court found a harmless violation of the husband’s right to take part. It reversed because the earlier California case required a pause in the Nevada case.

December 31, 2020Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Forsberg denied a father’s request to change custody after a hearing. She later increased monthly child support from $200 to $1,887.98 and assessed $33,966 in past-due support. The Court of Appeals upheld custody and support decisions despite overlooked documents, finding no demonstrated prejudice. It dismissed the unfinished legal-fee issue as premature.

November 11, 2020Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Awarded Solari primary authority over her child’s education and therapy and reduced her child support obligation to zero. The Supreme Court upheld both decisions, citing findings about the child’s best interests and necessary expenses she paid.

June 24, 2020Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Denied a mother’s request to add her surname to her child’s name because the parents had previously agreed otherwise. The Court of Appeals reversed because the child’s best interests required consideration despite that earlier agreement.

March 18, 2020Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Forsberg granted a father’s voluntary request to terminate his parental rights. She later denied his request to undo that decision. The Supreme Court sent the case back because required findings were missing. Forsberg supplied additional findings, and the Supreme Court upheld the denial of reconsideration.

February 5, 2020Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Gave Montes sole authority over major decisions for her child after finding the parents failed to cooperate over therapy. Denied Carrera’s request to change custody and awarded Montes legal fees. After earlier premature appeals were dismissed, the Court of Appeals upheld the final custody and fee rulings.

September 13, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Forsberg operated her Henderson family law practice in 2008–2012 and again from 2013 until her judicial appointment.

April 15, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: nvcourts.gov

Forsberg handled personal injury cases as a law clerk at William Errico & Associates before joining Family Court.

April 15, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: nvcourts.gov

Forsberg represented Eric Nelson in a dispute over civil wrongdoing claims. The Supreme Court declined immediate review. It identified an appeal after final judgment as an adequate remedy.

June 15, 2018Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Represented Eric Nelson in a divorce appeal over property agreements and trusts that shielded assets from creditors. The Supreme Court upheld his $800,000 personal spousal support obligation but barred collecting it from the trust. It rejected equalizing trust assets and ordered further tracing of where those assets came from.

May 25, 2017Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: acis-api.nvcourts.gov

Received a Texas law license.

October 9, 2014Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: texasbar.com

Forsberg volunteered through Ask A Lawyer, providing free legal advice to people representing themselves in court.

December 5, 2008Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: law.unlv.edu

Forsberg joined the State Bar of Nevada.

October 20, 2005Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: nvbar.org