Hon. Deborah Schumacher has served on the Second Judicial District Court bench in Washoe County since 1997. Judge Schumacher’s many efforts on behalf of our community’s children and families have included participation on the Nevada Children’s Justice Task Force, the Task Force on the Professionalization of Foster Care in Nevada, and the Statewide Adoption Advisory Committee. She also serves as “lead judge” of the NCJFCJ’s “Model Court” project which works to improve the handling of foster care cases nationwide.

Hon. Victoria Van Meter was appointed Family Court Master for the Second Judicial District Court in 1993, where her focus is on domestic violence cases. A frequent faculty member for NCJFCJ’s National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence, Master Van Meter has worked for both the City of Sparks and the City of Reno as a criminal prosecutor and a civil litigator.

Mr. Michael Capello, Director of the Washoe County Department of Social Services since 2000, has worked to protect children from abuse and neglect at the county and state levels for the past 23 years. His posts have included child protection worker, social services specialist, and Director of Washoe County’s Children’s Services Division. He also serves on the Reno Model Court Team for the NCJFCJ’s national “Model Court” project.

Mr. Michael Pomi is Director of Washoe County Juvenile Services, which has jurisdiction over juveniles ages 8 through 17 who commit delinquent acts or are in need of supervision. Prior to serving as Director of Juvenile Services, he was Division Director of Early Intervention and Prevention with oversight and responsibility for the McGee Center, Community Services, Community Outreach, and Juvenile Traffic.

Ms. Sabina Reiley has served the children of Washoe County as a licensed foster parent since 1994. Ms. Reiley understands the importance of permanency and works with children and their families toward reunification, and has provided permanency herself when children are unable to return to their families. Her dedication to children in crisis in our community has led her to provide a safe, stable home for numerous foster children, adopting nine children herself.