Miriam Shearing

Background

Shearing grew up on a farm near Spencer, New York, the oldest of three children.

Education

Shearing graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy. At Cornell she met her husband, Steven Shearing. She then graduated from Boston College Law School, where she took night classes while her husband attended medical school.

After graduation, the Shearings moved to California, where Steven Shearing completed his medical internship and residency, and then lived in Pakistan, where Steven Shearing worked for Cooperative American Relief Everywhere.

Career

Shearing was the first woman to serve as a Nevada district judge and as justice and chief justice on the Supreme Court of Nevada (1993–2005). Her parents were Finnish American, and she spoke Finnish in the home. The Shearings moved to Nevada in 1969, and Shearing was admitted to the bar in Nevada that year, becoming the fiftieth woman admitted to practice in the state.

Shearing practiced for several years in Las Vegas, and became a juvenile court referee in 1975.

Shearing successfully ran for a seat on the justice court, after the Clark County Commission (which was opposed to a woman serving on the court) refused to appoint her to an open seat. In 1977, Shearing became a justice of the peace in Clark County.

In 1983, Shearing became a Nevada District Court judge, the first woman to do so In 1986, Shearing became chief judge on the court and served as president of the Nevada District Judges Association. Shearing was an advocate of abortion rights who during the election campaign urged "a female voice" on the court.

The election was deeply bitter in tone, which the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline criticized, prompting Shearing and Thompson to apologize and agree "to refrain from negative campaigning in the future." Shearing became the first woman on the Nevada Supreme Court, and the 40th serving female state supreme court justice.

Shearing served on the court for twelve years, and was named chief justice in 1997. She ran unopposed for reelection in 1998. Shearing announced in April 2003 that she would not seek a third term, and retired on January 4, 2005, at the conclusion of her second term in office.

Shearing said that her term she would divide her time between Las Vegas and Incline Village.

Achievements

• In 1992, Shearing won an election to the Nevada Supreme Court, defeating District Judge J. Charles Thompson, the one-time favorite, 43 percent to 29 percent.