Out of 86 justice and municipal court judges in the state, Carson City's Justice of the Peace John Tatro was named Judge of the Year by the National Judges Association during its annual seminar.
Tatro, 49, received the honor Jan. 29 in Pahrump after being nominated by Justice of the Peace Robey Willis, who was the recipient of the award in 1991.
"I was completely surprised," Tatro said Thursday from his justice court chambers. "It's quite an honor."
He was presented with a plaque engraved with his name and those of his predecessors back to 1979. Next year, Tatro will pass the plaque to the new recipient.
He was also recognized for his milestone of 440 hours of judicial education from the Nevada Supreme Court.
Appointed to the Department 2 seat in 1995, Tatro serves on the board of directors of the Judges Association and the Carson Rotary Club, is a former president of the Carson Rotary Club, serves as vice president on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada and is a volunteer ski instructor in the Carson City Recreation Program.
Willis was also recognized with the Outstanding Judicial Education Achievement Award for 1,000 hours of judicial education.
"We're the luckiest judges in the country because the judicial college is right here," he said, referring to the University Nevada, Reno's National Judicial College.
Willis is the 13th judge to receive the award.
He is the only judge to serve as a two-term president of the Judges Association. He also serves as chairman of the association's legislative committee.
Elected to his seat in 1983, Willis is a former U.S. history and government teacher, and coached boxing, football and baseball at the Stewart Indian School.
He began his judicial career as a juvenile magistrate.
Contact F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.