After graduation, the Shearings moved to California, where Steven Shearing completed his
medical internship and
residency, and then lived in
Pakistan, where Steven Shearing worked for
CARE. Shearing practiced for several years in
Las Vegas, and became a juvenile court referee in 1975. In 1983, Shearing became a Nevada District Court judge, the first woman to do so Shearing was an advocate of
abortion rights who during the election campaign urged "a female voice" on the court. The election was deeply bitter in tone, which the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline criticized, prompting Shearing and Thompson to apologize and agree "to refrain from negative campaigning in the future." Shearing became the first woman on the Nevada Supreme Court, and the 40th serving
female state supreme court justice. Shearing served on the court for twelve years, and was named chief justice in 1997. She ran unopposed for reelection in 1998. Shearing announced in April 2003 that she would not seek a third term, and retired on January 4, 2005, at the conclusion of her second term in office. Shearing said that upon retirement she would divide her time between Las Vegas and
Incline Village. ==Personal life==