• Judicial Assistant: 775-334-2296
• Department Clerk: 775-334-2590

Judge Gene Drakulich

Judge Drakulich graduated from the University of Nevada at Reno with a degree in journalism in 1979. He received his Juris Doctorate from McGeorge School of Law in 1985. Prior to his judgeship, Judge Drakulich served as a Deputy District Attorney in the Washoe County District Attorney's Office for six years under Mills B. Lane. Upon leaving the District Attorney's Office Judge Drakulich maintained a private practice in the Reno area concentrating in the areas of criminal defense and civil litigation. In 2014 Judge Drakulich ran unopposed in his bid to replace the retiring Honorable Jay Dilworth for the judgeship in Reno Municipal Court, Department 1. 

While in college, Judge Drakulich was a member of the University of Nevada Boxing team. In order to further refine his studies in journalism Judge Drakulich was the editor of the Artemesia and was an accomplished photo journalist for the Sagebrush, the student newspaper. Judge Drakulich was the president of the Blue Key Society in addition to a variety of different student organizations while at the University. Upon graduating from UNR, Judge Drakulich served as an intern in Washington D.C. for U.S. Senator Paul Laxalt.

Judge Drakulich prides himself in working with local at-risk youths who struggle with a variety of addictions. Additionally, Judge Drakulich and his family give generously with time and resources to local institutions such as the Boys and Girls Club and the Reno Rodeo Association.

Judge Drakulich is a native to Reno and is one of nine children. His greatest accomplishments in life are his marriage of 28 years along with his two beautiful daughters.

•  Judicial Assistant: 775-334-2297
• Department Clerk: 775-334-2591

Judge Shelly T. O'Neill

Shelly was raised in North Las Vegas, the oldest of three children. Her father worked in the casino industry and her mother, a county employee and an accomplished artist was one of the founding members of the Las Vegas Art League. Her parents instilled in Shelly from an early age the notion of community service. Her mother was a member of the parks and recreation board and dedicated much of her life to the betterment of her community.

Shelly attended and graduated from Rancho High School and was the first in her family to graduate from college, Northern Arizona University, where she obtained a B.A. in political science.  Shelly was one of a small handful of women in her law school at California Western Law School where she was named National Champion in Client Counseling. She interned with the Supreme Court of Nevada and after graduation with Honors, clerked for the Honorable Peter Breen of the Second Judicial District Court in Reno. Shelly was recognized as one of the first 100 women to be admitted to the State Bar of Nevada. She is a Master Emeritus of the prestigious American Inns of Court. Her legal career includes more than a decade as Chief Public Defender; Deputy Attorney general for the Antitrust Division, where she assisted in bringing a multi-million dollar settlement to the State of Nevada. She also served as a prosecutor for the City of Reno, and was the General Counsel to the Nevada Public Utilities Commission.

Shelly is married to Ely, Nevada native Craig Demetras, and has operated their small business law practice together in Midtown for more than fifteen years. His practice includes small business formation, personal injury, mining, and bankruptcy.  The firm, Demetras & O’Neill, were two-time recipients of the Washoe Legal Services Pro Bono Award for Small Firms, providing legal assistance to the poor The firm prided itself on its commitment in the formation and support of many of the small businesses in Midtown.

Shelly and Craig are dedicated to protecting wilderness and outdoor adventure by their decade’s long support of the bicycle race, the Tour De Nez. They have been volunteers for many years for Friends of Nevada Wilderness and the Tahoe Pyramid Bicycle Trail. They have two sons, Hunter, a recent dual-degree, UNR graduate now attending law school, and Andy, a senior majoring education and psychology in college, who will be enrolling in Fire Science Academy. 

• Judicial Assistant: 775-334-3822
• Department Clerk: 775-334-2592

Judge Justin Champagne 

Justin is a 4th-generation Nevadan who was born and raised in the Truckee Meadows. He graduated from the University of Nevada with a BA in Journalism in 1996, and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Utah College of Law in 1999.

Justin has spent his entire legal career in the courtroom. His first job out of law school was as a
law clerk for the Honorable Jerome Polaha, where he was immersed in the life of the courtroom and
discovered his passion for criminal law. He then worked for 15 years as a Deputy Public Defender at the
Washoe County Public Defender’s office. During this time, he represented defendants in nearly every
type of criminal case, including felony jury trials, juvenile delinquency defense and mental health
commitments. However, it was working in Specialty Courts such as Felony DUI Court, Drug and
Diversion Court, and Mental Health Court that Justin realized the positive impact the courts could have
on the community by helping clients get into treatment and turn their lives around by making long-term
positive change. After leaving the Public Defender’s office, he spent several years working as a
prosecutor for the Reno City Attorney’s Office, appearing exclusively in Reno Municipal Court.

Justin has been married for 28 years to his wife, Suzi, who is a teacher with the Washoe County School
District, and they have raised two wonderful children, Madeline and Ethan. He gives back to the
community by helping the Mock Trial and We The People teams at Reno High School, helping to instill a
love of the law in the next generation. When he’s not working, Justin enjoys spending time in Nevada’s
great outdoors hiking, skiing and golfing, and he loves to travel whenever possible.

Justin feels honored to be able to represent the citizens of Reno working as judge in the Reno Municipal
Court, where he presides over the Co-Occurring Disorders specialty court, along with his time working in
general criminal court.

• Judicial Assistant: 775-326-6673
• Department Clerk: 775-334-2186

Judge Chris Hazlett-Stevens

Chris was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and began his professional career as a classically trained musician, eventually attending The University of Southern California to study music. While attending USC, Chris met his future wife, Holly, where they began their adventures together. Chris followed Holly to central Pennsylvania where she earned her PhD and Chris completed his undergraduate work in Administration of Justice while minoring in Spanish. They returned to Southern California where Chris worked as a bilingual child abuse treatment coordinator and then worked as an investigator for the State Bar of California in Los Angeles. The two found their way to Reno when Holly was offered an Assistant Professor position at UNR in 2002. Chris took this opportunity to attend law school at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, CA. 

Chris began his legal career working for a small law firm in Reno working in family law, estate planning and general litigation. He soon found his way to the public sector, first as a Deputy Attorney General representing the Department of Taxation and the Office of Child Support Enforcement, then as a Deputy City Attorney with the Reno City Attorney's Office where he prosecuted thousands of cases in the Reno Municipal Court over a period of twelve years. Currently, Chris is the presiding judge for Department 4 of the Reno Municipal Court where he has the honor of presiding over the Community Court, an effort to connect those in need to available resources in our community while maintaining a sense of restorative justice. 

Chris and his wife have two wonderful boys, Jackson, who is training to be a professional ballet dancer, and Ian who is enjoying being a 12-year-old. While Chris no longer plays professionally anymore, he still takes out his bassoon from time-to-time and plays it for his own enjoyment.