Acting Chief Judge Bernard F. Veljacic

Judge Veljacic received his law degree from Seattle University in 1998 and was admitted to the bar that same year. He practiced for 16 years in both the private sector and as a prosecutor until his appointment to the Clark County Superior Court in 2014. In 2021 Judge Veljacic began service on the Court of Appeals, Division II.

Judge Veljacic has a broad base of experience, which includes co-founding a legal clinic early in his legal career and serving as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. He also represented entities and individuals in a variety of matters in both state and federal courts, where he served as trial and appellate counsel. Judge Veljacic has presided over the full range of matters that come before the court: family law proceedings, therapeutic court, civil and criminal matters. In his role, he seeks to carefully listen to each litigant, remain faithful to the law, and decide each case fairly.

While off the bench, Judge Veljacic is active in the community. He serves as a member of Rotary Club and the George and Donald Simpson Inns of Court. He continues to serve as a speaker at seminars and forums and volunteers for the YMCA Youth and Government Mock Trial program. He enjoyed past roles with the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools board, and as a high school Street Law visiting teacher. He has volunteered for numerous other local efforts, and has coached soccer and basketball. In his off hours you will find him spending time with his family, exercising, backpacking, hunting, and fishing.