Elko County Courts

Mason E. Simons was born in St. George, Utah and spent most of his childhood years living in the small town of Escalante, Utah. As a child, Mason grew to love the outdoors and developed a passion for fishing, traveling and spending quality time with his family.

At the age of twelve, Mason moved with his family to Las Vegas, Nevada. He attended Las Vegas High School and while in high school was active in student government, played defensive end on the high school football team and participated in a variety of choral and acting groups and productions. Mason graduated with honors from Las Vegas High School in 1995.

Following graduation, Mason attended Dixie State University in St. George, Utah before departing on a two-year mission to Nicaragua. As a result of his mission service, Mason is fluent in Spanish.

Following his mission, Mason completed his Associate of Arts Degree Cum Laude at Dixie State University before being selected as the only student at Dixie State University to be assigned to a prestigious summer congressional internship. Mason served as an intern with the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary in the office of the Chief Counsel. Mason was serving in this capacity during the historic impeachment trial of U.S. President William J. Clinton.

Following completion of his congressional internship, Mason attended Utah State University in Logan, Utah where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, Cum Laude. While at USU, Mason served as an officer in the National Political Science Honor Society.

Following his graduation from college, Mason decided to follow his lifelong dream of becoming an attorney. Mason was accepted into the newly created William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and was part of the third graduating class from that institution – obtaining his Juris Doctorate Degree in 2003.

Mason met and married his wife, Mandy Hunter of Rupert, Idaho, in Las Vegas before deciding to move to northern Nevada to raise their young family. 

While in law school, Mason served as an extern with a District Judge in the 8^th Judicial District Court (Family Division), as a legal extern in the Clark County District Attorney’s Office (Appellate Division) and as a licensed student attorney in the immigration section of the Thomas & Mack Legal Clinic.

Following law school, Mason served as law clerk to the Hon. Gloria S. O’Malley of the 8^th Judicial District Court (Family Division) in Las Vegas for nearly two years.

Following his clerkship, Mason accepted a Deputy Public Defender position in the Elko County Public Defender’s Office in northeastern Nevada. Mason had the privilege, while at the Public Defender’s Office, to serve as a member of the 4^th Judicial District Adult Drug Court Team.

While serving in the Public Defender’s Office, Mason was recruited by the late District Judge Andrew J. Puccinelli to serve as Court Master for the 4^th Judicial District Court. In this capacity, Mason was the judicial officer that presided over the child support, juvenile delinquency, juvenile dependency and protective order case calendars for the District Court. Court Master Simons also presided over the Juvenile Drug Court, Teen Court and the Truancy Court programs for the District Court. Prior to leaving the Family Court, Court Master Simons was instrumental in the creation of the Elko’s first Family Drug Court program. Mason served as Court Master for a period of six years – from January, 2007 to January, 2013.

In January, 2012, Mason declared his candidacy for the position of Elko Township Justice of the Peace. Mason was duly elected to that position on November 6, 2012 and sworn into office by District Judge Alvin R. Kacin. Mason began his service as Elko Township Justice of the Peace on January 7, 2013. Mason was also appointed by the Elko City Council, following his election, to serve concurrently as Municipal Judge for the City of Elko.

In 2020, Mason was elected to serve as judge of Department III of Nevada's Fourth Judicial District. 

Mason served previously as a member of the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Nevada from 2009 to 2013.

Mason and Mandy are the proud parents of three daughters and a son. Mandy Simons currently serves as a member of the Elko City Council.

Mason is grateful for the confidence that was placed in him by Elko area voters and considers his service as a judge to be a sacred trust.