Juvenile court administrator sworn in

A longtime employee of the Clark County Juvenile Court system was sworn in Friday afternoon as the new juvenile court administrator.

Christine Simonsmeier joined the court in 1997 as a juvenile detention officer, according to Ernie Veach-White, who’s served as the interim administrator since April. In the years since, she has worked as a juvenile services associate, working in the court’s Connections program — a probation program that serves youth and their families on behavioral health issues — probation counselor, victim impact coordinator and juvenile services manager.

Simonsmeier will celebrate her 19-year anniversary with the county in September, Veach-White said.

She was selected to serve as the juvenile court administrator by Clark County’s Superior Court judges.

Simonsmeier was sworn in by Superior Court Judge James Rulli, Veach-White said, in front of a full courtroom. She can now officially assume her duties.

“And I’ll ride off into the sunset,” he said laughing. Veach-White served the juvenile court for 30 years and retired in July 2008. He was asked to serve as the interim juvenile court administrator after his successor, Patrick Escamilla, left in the spring to pursue another job opportunity.