Alumni stories

Read stories from Judicial Studies alumni.

Hon. Judge Agatha Anulika Okeke

Nigerian Judge Agatha Okeke will receive her Ph.D. in Judicial Studies from the University of Nevada, Reno in December.

Judge Agatha Okeke headshot

Hon. Judge Agatha Okeke is a judge for the Federal High Court in Nigeria. Her dissertation is a stepping stone toward fighting sex trafficking of children in Nigeria. After graduation, she hopes to translate her findings into practice, and through judicial training, she wants to help judges apply the sentencing provisions correctly. She also wants to advocate for the adoption of the Child's Rights Act in every state, stronger support for victim services, and to carefully evaluate restorative justice pilots. Alongside this, she plans to continue teaching, mentoring and publishing so that more scholarship and enforcement efforts reach children trafficked in Nigeria.

"Studying partly on-site and partly online made it possible: time on campus brought me together with faculty and judges from other legal systems, while the online format let me keep serving in my court. My courtroom became part of my research, and my research became part of my courtroom.” - Hon. Judge Agatha Okeke

Judge Richard T. Gurley

Judge Richard T. Gurley graduated with his Master of Judicial Studies in 2025.

judge Richard Gurley sitting as a judge

Judicial Studies alumnus Judge Richard T. Gurley graduated with his Master of Judicial Studies (MJS) in 2025. After serving more than 17 years as a Colorado state District Court judge, in June 2024, he was elevated to the U.S. Federal Bench and currently serves as a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Colorado . He currently teaches courses at Colorado Mesa University and Tarleton State University on topics including America’s Court Systems, Business Law and Mediation. His academic interests include the study of law and economics and antitrust law.

Hon. David Hardy, Ph.D.

Hon. David Hardy, Ph.D. earned his Ph.D. in Judicial Studies from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2015.

judge David Hardy holding paper on judge's stand

The Honorable David Hardy, Ph.D. has served on the bench in Washoe County, Nevada, since 2005. He earned his Ph.D. in Judicial Studies from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2015.

A prolific legal scholar, Judge Hardy has authored a dozen publications, most recently including his 2025 book, Profiles in Judicial Excellence: Territorial and Supreme Court Justices of Nevada (University of Nevada Press).


In addition to his judicial service, Judge Hardy contributes extensively to legal education. He served an instructor at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he taught Judicial Processes and Business Law and Commercial Transactions, and he has frequently served on the faculty of the National Judicial College. He is also a frequent lecturer at continuing legal education conferences, focusing primarily on judicial ethics and legal matters affecting the elderly.

Hon. Donald Shelton, Ph.D.

Hon. Donald Shelton, Ph.D. earned is Ph.D. in Judicial Studies from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2010 and is a nationally recognized expert in forensic science, judicial education and criminal justice.

Hon. Donald Shelton headshot

Hon. Donald Shelton, Ph.D. is a nationally recognized expert in forensic science, judicial education and criminal justice who served as a Michigan Circuit Court judge for 25 years before retiring from the bench in 2014. He earned his Ph.D. from the Judicial Studies Program in 2010 and subsequently directed the Criminology and Criminal Justice Program at the University of Michigan-Dearborn for a decade, during which he helped develop the "Alternatives to Violent Force" training program completed by over 1,000 law enforcement officers. Author of three books and numerous scholarly publications—including his 2026 work The Role of Science in the Law published by Taylor and Francis—Shelton continues to teach online at Michigan State University, the University of Arizona and Purdue University.