Michelle Leavitt
NV · Eighth Judicial District Court Judge, Department 12
Michelle Leavitt has been a Clark County district judge since 2002. A Las Vegas native, she earlier handled civil lawsuits and criminal defense in private practice.
Track record
Track record — General
General · 4 records
Received Third Branch PAC’s endorsement for the 2026 District Court Department 12 general election.
September 28, 2026
Source: thirdbranchnv.com
Received SEIU Local 1107’s endorsement for the 2026 District Court Department 12 primary.
September 28, 2026
Source: seiunv.org
Received Culinary Workers Union Local 226’s endorsement for District Court Department 12.
May 9, 2026
Source: m.culinaryunion226.org
Joined Clark County’s Homicide Case Team, which centralized murder cases.
September 7, 2018
Source: clarkcountycourts.us
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 3 favorable · 4 unfavorable
Denied a habeas petition; Nevada Supreme Court reversed in part and ordered three sexual-assault convictions vacated.
April 4, 2024Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: nvcourts.gov
Denied a murder defendant’s factual-innocence petition without a hearing; Nevada Supreme Court reversed and ordered further review.
April 28, 2022Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: nvcourts.gov
Helped Las Vegas Municipal Court judges prepare for their first jury trials in domestic-violence cases.
March 15, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: lasvegasnevada.gov
Denied a murder defendant’s insanity-verdict challenge; Nevada Supreme Court affirmed her ruling.
April 29, 2021Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: nvcourts.gov
Denied a homeowner’s speech-protection motion; Nevada Supreme Court reversed and held his HOA criticism concerned a public issue.
December 31, 2020Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: nvcourts.gov
Overruled a jury-strike objection without findings; Nevada Supreme Court reversed the conviction and ordered a new trial.
July 9, 2020Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: nvcourts.gov
Was sworn in as judge of the Eighth Judicial District Court’s Department 12.
May 10, 2002Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: clarkcountycourts.us
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 1 record
Accepted a public reprimand after admitting violations of Nevada’s judicial-conduct rules.
May 8, 2015
Source: epubs.nsla.nv.gov
Past race Michelle Leavitt ran in:
- District Court Judge, Department 12 · November 3, 2026 · Clark County, Nevada · incumbent