District Judge Vincent Ochoa entered an order setting trial and establishing deadlines for witness lists and evidence; and, separately, ordered how parental communications and conduct should occur. The parents disclosed a variety of witnesses, made written objections, and changed counsel. On December 4, Judge Ochoa denied attorney Danielle Dawson’s request to withdraw as counsel for the father, citing the impending bench trial.

A custody dispute filed in February 2025 put two very different parenting plans before District Court Judge Vincent Ochoa. S.M., the Mother, sought physical and legal custody of the common minor child, jointly; and, a schedule in which the child would spend alternating weeks with each parent. J.B., the Father, opposed that arrangement, asking instead for sole custody with supervised visitation for Mother. Father's petition and Mother's answer offered competing accounts of the family’s history and what would best serve their child. Judge Ochoa entered a temporary order on April 16, awarding legal custody to the parents jointly; but, primary physical custody to Father, with mother’s parenting time to occur from Saturday at 3 p.m. until Monday at 3 p.m., weekly. The Court also ordered the parents to attempt mediation. Attorney Luke Busby, on behalf of Our Nevada Judges, Inc., filed a motion to unseal the entire court file. Separately, Judge Ochoa granted the media entity's request to provide comprehensive electronic coverage of the proceedings, the first hearing of which was scheduled to occur on May 7.