JUDGE JERRY C. WHITEHEAD

(1985-1996)

The Honorable Jerry Whitehead was born in Topeka, Kansas. He obtained his bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas in 1956, and his law degree from Washburn University in 1960. While in law school, he was an Associate Editor of the Washburn Law Review from 1959-60. He was a law clerk at the Kansas Supreme Court in 1961-62, and he was a law clerk at the Nevada Supreme Court in 1962-63.

Mr. Whitehead was in private practice in Reno for twenty-two years and was counsel in over one hundred jury trials. He was a Municipal Court Judge Pro-Tem, and from 1966-1972, he was a Chief Tribal Judge, for the Paiute Tribe in Washoe County. He was also a Court Master in the Second Judicial District Court from 1967-84.

Mr. Whitehead was also an active member of many law related organizations. Among them were: Washoe County Bar Association, Northern Nevada Trial Lawyers Association, Nevada Trial Lawyers Association, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, American Board of Trial Advocates, and American Inns of Court.

Judge Whitehead was a District Judge of the Second Judicial District Court from 1985 to 1996. He was the Chief Judge of the Court for part of this time.

While a District Judge, Judge Whitehead was honored for his work. He received the National Herbert Harley Award of the American Judicature Society for his work in reducing delay and lowering costs to litigants. He was selected as Judge of Distinction for the State of Nevada by the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association. He was selected as Judge of the Year by community groups like the Washoe County Medical Association, Reno Police Protective Association, Boy Scouts of America and labor unions. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association, and he was honored with a Proclamation by the Governor for his innovative work in the District Court.

Judge Whitehead contributed to the authorship of a number of Nevada legal publications: Nevada Pattern Jury Instructions, Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure, Pre-trial Procedures for the Nevada Civil Practice Manual and Nevada Judicial Council forms. He was also an instructor and lecturer in trial practice for many different institutions.

After leaving the District Court, Judge Whitehead began a mediation service in Reno in which he completed thousands of mediations. The Northern Nevada Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates honored him as "Nevada's Settlement Judge." He is the father of five children, grandfather of many grandchildren and a great grandfather.