About

Judge Michelle Leavitt is a lifelong Las Vegan who has dedicated her career to public service, fairness, and the faithful administration of justice. Born in Las Vegas in 1965, Judge Leavitt is deeply rooted in the community she serves and brings decades of legal and judicial experience to the bench. 

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Judge Leavitt graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1983 and earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1987. She went on to receive her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law, graduating cum laude in 1994. While in law school, she distinguished herself as a member of the Law Review International Law Journal. 

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Following law school, Judge Leavitt began her legal career at Alverson, Taylor, Mortensen, Nelson & Sanders, where she developed extensive experience in medical malpractice and a wide range of civil litigation matters. 

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In 1998, she opened her own practice as a sole practitioner, handling a broad mix of criminal defense and civil litigationcases. Her reputation for preparedness, integrity, and good judgment quickly became well known in the legal community. 

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In January 1999, Judge Leavitt was appointed by unanimous vote of the City Council to fill a vacancy on the Municipal Court. She later earned the trust of voters and was re-elected twice, in 1999 and 2001. 

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In 2002, Judge Leavitt applied for an open seat on the District Court, and in May of that year, Governor Kenny Guinnappointed her as a District Judge in Department 12 of the Eighth Judicial District Court. She was sworn into office on May 10, 2002, beginning what has become a long and respected judicial career. 

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Judge Leavitt is the mother of three children and remains active in the legal community as a member of the State Bar of Nevada, the Clark County Bar Association, and the Nevada Judges Association. She also serves in key roles supporting the justice system statewide, including work with the Criminal Task Force of the Judicial Assessment Commission, the Education Commission of the Nevada Judges Association, and the Nevada Supreme Court’s Mandatory Sentencing Review Commission.