Hometown Roots
This valley is my home, and I could not ask for a greater privilege than to serve its citizens as the Carson City District Attorney. I live and work in Carson City and am raising my family here. I met my wife at Empire Elementary in 1992 when we were both in Ms. Malin’s sixth-grade class.
I am a proud graduate of both Western Nevada College (back when WNC had two 'Cs') and the University of Nevada, Reno. I graduated law school in Dallas, Texas, at Southern Methodist University - Dedman School of Law before returning home to practice in Nevada.
After coming home from the 'big city,' and by then a dad, I gained an appreciation for our community that I did not have as a kid growing up on Woodside in the 90s. I coached AYSO soccer for my daughters’ teams and taught beginners how to start skiing at Sky Tavern (Pizza and French Fries!) when my girls were first learning to navigate the slopes.
We walk our dogs in the sagebrush, camp where there isn’t a cell signal, and ski on both mountains and the lakes because that is what Nevadans do. This place we all call home is special, and the natural resources are a large part of it. Our quality of life in this valley is what makes it one of the best places to live and raise a family. I am committed to protecting our way of life, and being the people’s lawyer as the Carson City District Attorney is the best way for me to do that.
Growing up here, my education is uniquely influenced by Northern Nevada and our shared commitment to independence, liberty, and preserving our way of life in this rugged landscape we love and call home. I recognize that many of my positions are rooted in my upbringing here. In particular, I believe that public safety and constitutional integrity are not competing values — they are complementary pillars of a strong community.
National Experience
My legal career spans both public and private practice, criminal law and civil matters, and complex litigation across multiple jurisdictions including federal and state courts.
I am a founding member of the Carson City Public Defender’s Office and currently serve as a Supervisor. As a trial attorney, I evaluate criminal cases, advise clients on their rights and legal options, staunchly defend constitutional integrity, and appear in court nearly every day, multiple times per day. I am responsible for supervising approximately half of the office to ensure the team’s mission is executed with precision and dedication to our Constitutions, acting as good stewards of taxpayer money while promoting public safety.
My introduction to public defense began as Deputy Public Defender for the Nevada State Public Defender’s Office in 2022. Before that, I served as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of Nevada, defending the Nevada Department of Corrections, corrections officers, prison medical providers, and other NDOC employees in federal lawsuits filed by inmates.
Prior to public service, I was a private practitioner primarily in Nevada and Texas. I have represented clients with cases in Nevada, Texas, California, Utah, Arkansas, Wisconsin, and Florida. I have appeared for clients—big and small—in both state and federal courts across the country. My family of clients includes individuals, small companies, large companies, cities, and governmental agencies.
I have practiced law in jurisdictions across the country advising clients on multiple legal issues, including water rights, patent rights and licensing agreements, mineral rights, wills and trusts, breach of contract, criminal defense, land use, business formation, and even custody issues. Throughout this diverse experience, my dedication to transparent, honest, and effective representation has remained constant for clients who have put their trust in me.
All together, these roles reflect a career built on advocacy, disciplined case management, and honest advice. I have handled matters ranging from advising individuals on how to protect their assets, whether to plead to a criminal charge, to advising organizations on how to launch, avoid, or resolve a dispute. When I look a client in the eye, they know I have their best interests at the forefront of my mind and take the somber responsibility of handling their case or life with the dedication and care they deserve and expect.
This combination of experience—representing individuals, defending the State against lawsuits, defending persons against the State, and litigating in federal and state courts across the country—gives me a balanced and comprehensive understanding of how law works and how the justice system should function.
