Biography

Judge Connie Steinheimer was elected to her current role as a General Jurisdiction District Judge in 1992, and reelected in 1996, 2002, 2008 and 2014, and served as Chief Judge from 2008 to 2012. Judge Steinheimer was named the Short Trial Commissioner in 2009, and was reappointed in 2012, 2016 and 2018. Also, she serves on the following court committees: Budget Committee, Civil Bench/Bar Committee, Chair, Court Automated Enhancement Project, Filing Office Committee, Legislative Committee, Specialty Courts Liaison, Statistics Committee, and as Chair of the Washoe County Law Library Board. Judge Steinheimer is also a member of the Commission on Statewide Rules of Criminal Procedure Jury Instructions Work Group, Access to Justice Committee and its subcommittee concerning efiling.

Judge Steinheimer earned her Bachelor's degree from the University of Nevada, Reno in social psychology and graduated from the Willamette University Law School. Prior to coming to the bench, she was a juvenile probation officer, a Washoe County Deputy District Attorney, and in private practice from 1984 to 1992 specializing in civil and criminal litigation.

Judge Steinheimer is admitted to practice in Oregon and Nevada, the United States District Court, and the United State Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Judge Steinheimer is also a member of the American Bar Association, the Nevada and Oregon Bar Associations, the Washoe County Bar Association, the American Judges Association, the National Association of Women Judges, the Nevada District Judges Association, and the Northern Nevada Women Lawyers Association.

Judge Steinheimer is a past alumna and faculty member of the National Judicial College, certified as a criminal trial specialist by the National Board of Criminal Trial Advocacy, and has been published in the State Bar of Nevada Journal. Over the years, she has taught criminal and civil procedure, trial practice, jury management, voir dire, managing complex litigation, electronic filing, and ethics for the State Bar of Nevada Justice Association, Washoe County Bar Association, Oregon Presiding Judges' Conference and the American Bar Association.

Judge Steinheimer has served on statewide committees throughout her term on the bench including the Foreclosure Mediation Committee which developed the Foreclosure Mediation Program, chaired the Governor's Commission for the Training of Mandated Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect, which authored a training manual for the State of Nevada, served on the Nevada Capital Case Advisory Committee, and the Nevada State Bar Criminal Practice and Procedure Committee working to streamline the State Appellate Process which was largely adopted by the Nevada Supreme Court.

Judge Steinheimer is a native Nevadan. She has been married for 40 years with two daughters. She is also a lifelong member of Trinity Episcopal Church. Judge Steinheimer is also a Past President of Soroptimist International of Truckee Meadows, and a current member of its International Goodwill and Understanding Committee that is committed to assisting Nepalese girls and women to fight human trafficking and improving their educational opportunities.