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Recently appointed Judge Ellie Roohani graciously thanked many people in her investiture speech. She thanked her Nana who Judge Roohani said, “Raised her and her brother while her parents worked hard to put food on the table.” She then thanked her parents “for having the fortitude to leave behind everything so that she could have a chance to go to school and achieve her dreams.” She thanked her Uncle Kay, who as a young bachelor invited them into his apartment and gave up his room for them stay. She thanked her husband Nima for all his support, other family members, Governor Sisolak, her colleagues, mentors and others.
After all the thanks, Judge Roohani said, “So let me tell you who I am and how I see myself. My name is Ellie. I was a young immigrant kid, who was raised by two people who sacrificed everything so that I could have a chance at an education. My mom and dad left Iran as religious refugees. My family practices the Baha’I faith; and our religion is not recognize by the Iran government. In Iran, Baha’Is can’t go to school; they can’t own businesses; their marriages aren’t recognized; and they are actively persecuted, imprisoned, and killed simply for being Baha’i. My parents could see what the fate of their future children would be; and that’s why we came here to the U.S. before I was even two years old. Growing up, I never realized that I was any different than any other kid that I went to school with; and it’s because my parents never, never broadcast their struggles.”
Judge Roohani got emotional as he elaborated on the sacrifices her parents made and the gratitude for the community that was their refuge, “Their story is a story of terrible, terrible injustice. But, I tell it to you so you know how I was raised and how I think. My parents always demanded excellence. They demanded hard work. And every day they fostered a spirit of service in our family so that I would give back to the community that embraced us.”
Judges garner a lot of respect. Judge Roohani made it a point to note her education was local. “I am proud to tell you that I am a product of the Clark County Public School system here in Las Vegas. I am a graduate of Clark High School. Go Chargers! Go Chargers! I graduated from UNLV undergrad and UNLV Law School.” She summarized her pride and appreciation for this community. “It means the world to me to be able achieve my dreams in the city that raised me.”
Judge Roohani’s investiture and speech can be viewed at
https://www.facebook.com/clarkcountycourts/videos/288853553338179
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