Appointed By: Gov. Kenneth C. Guinn
The Hon. Michael L. Douglas (Ret.) was a justice of the Supreme Court of Nevada. He was appointed to the Supreme Court bench by former Governor Kenny Guinn in 2004, becoming the first African-American justice in Nevada’s history. He retained his seat in subsequent elections. Douglas retired in 2019.
He received a bachelor’s degree from California State College, Long Beach in 1971. Douglas went on to earn a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in 1974.
He relocated from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Las Vegas in 1982, where he began working as an attorney with Nevada Legal Services. His time there would be brief.
In 1984, Douglas went to work for the Clark County District Attorney’s Office, holding an assignment in the Criminal Division. He remained in his position there until 1996.
Douglas was then appointed to serve as a judge for the Eighth Judicial District Court in 1996 and would retain his seat until his appointment to the State’s Supreme Court in 2004. During his tenure on the District Court bench, Douglas served as its chief judge and also presided on the Business Court.
While on the Supreme Court, he served as its chief justice in 2011 and 2017.
Douglas received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Las Vegas Chapter of the National Bar Association in 2016. He also received the Silver Staircase Award from the Public Interest Law Association of the William S. Boyd School of Law in 2013.
His memberships included the Judicial Council of the State of Nevada, the Nevada District Judges Association (past-vice president), the Nevada American Inns of Court (past-president), the State Bar of Nevada, the Nevada Law Foundation, the National Bar Association, and the Consumer Credit Counseling Service.
| Current Appointment Supreme Court of Nevada, Retired | Supreme Court of Nevada, Retired |
| Previous Appointment 8th Judicial District Court of Nevada | 8th Judicial District Court of Nevada |
|
Education
J.D., University of California, Hastings College of Law - 1974 Bachelor's degree, California State College, Long Beach - 1971 |
J.D., University of California, Hastings College of Law - 1974 Bachelor's degree, California State College, Long Beach - 1971 |
| Current Court: | NV - Supreme Court of Nevada |
|---|---|
| Previous Court: | NV - 8th Judicial District Court of Nevada Supreme Court of Nevada, Department retired |
| Role | Employer | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Justice | Supreme Court of Nevada | Carson City, Nevada |
| Judge | Eighth Judicial District Court | Washoe County, Nevada |
| Prosecutor | Clark County District Attorney's Office | Washoe County, Nevada |
| Attorney | Nevada Legal Services | None |
| Attorney | Private Practice | Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania |
Supreme Court of Nevada: Justice Michael Douglas
Wikipedia: Michael L. Douglas
William S. Boyd School of Law: About Justice Michael L. Douglas
Supreme Court of Nevada: Retiring Justice Michael L. Douglas Selected to Serve as 2018 Chief Justice
Supreme Court of Nevada: Supreme Court Justice Michael Douglas Honored by Public Interest Law Association
Ballotpedia: Michael Douglas
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