In this edition of Meet The Incumbent, we interview Judge Douglas E. Smith of the Eighth Juducial District Court. Hard work and dedication are words many use to describe themselves, but when describing Judge Smith, words can’t begin to paint his portrait. Judge Smith is a self-supported man who often worked multiple jobs as he carried himself through his studies and into a career in law. He began his career with the Clark County Public Defender in 1983, but soon thereafter made a switch over to the Clark County District Attorney’s office. With a plethora of trial experience as an attorney, he now sits on the bench for the District Court.

An embodiment of hard work and justice, Judge Smith has a passion for making change and upholding the constitution.

Vegas Legal Magazine (VLM): What did you do before becoming a judge?

Judge Doug Smith (DS): I was a Clark County Public Defender for about three years before transferring to Clark County District Attorney’s office and prosecuted criminals for about seven years.

VLM: What is the most memorable case you tried as an attorney before taking the bench?

DS: I prosecuted our sitting Clark County constable. The FBI had been working this case for a number of years then brought it to Rex Bell our District Attorney. It would have been easy to walk away from the case as the FBI had been working it for so long. We could have blamed the FBI for not completing the case. But, we decided it was too important for the citizens of Clark County to just ignore the crimes. And we were successful.

VLM: What made you decide to run for judge?

DS: People were complaining about a sitting judge. I decided if I was complaining, I must do something about it and jumped in the political process and ran for office.

VLM: What does being a judge mean to you?

DS: One can make more money as an attorney than working for the State. I felt and feel that good people can make a difference if they become involved.  I feel it is important to the citizens of Clark County to try to make their lives more protected.

VLM: What is your favorite and least favorite thing about being a judge?

DS: My favorite things about being a judge is serving and helping others. My least favorite is handling any case that involves a child as a victim. [Children] don’t deserve ill treatment.

VLM: What is the most memorable case you have presided over as a judge?

DS: All murder cases are extremely important to help families find closure to their grieving. As a lower court judge, I was the chief judge with Justice Court who managed the O.J. Simpson case.

VLM: Describe a situation where you had to support a legal position that conflicted with your personal beliefs. Please tell us how you handled it.

DS: Most criminal cases conflict with my personal beliefs. But if the State does not have enough evidence to convict a person for the crime, I will dismiss the case. Not that I support the crime, but I support the Constitution and must follow the law.

VLM: Describe a court situation that tested the limits of your patience. How did you respond? In hindsight, is there anything you would have done differently?

DS: When prisoners are brought into court, they are chained together, you know they are angry. Through seeing thousands of defendants come into court, you can tell if an individual is going to become disruptive. We had a day where I knew we were going to have problems with such a person. In the middle of handling another man’s case, he blurted out expletives directed at me. I stopped what I was doing and directed my attention at him. I explained that if I was distracted by his outburst, I may unconsciously put someone in jail unnecessarily. So it would be his fault. I told him I would treat him with as much respect as he showed me. I then had him removed from the courtroom and reset his date for a week later. I received a letter of apology during the pending week. He returned and was a gentleman.

VLM: What’s your biggest pet peeve caused by attorneys that appear in your courtroom?

DS: My biggest pet peeve is attorneys who don’t show up for court or show up unprepared. The court always announces a return date, time, and purpose for the next court date. Some attorneys don’t even write the court information down.

VLM: What is your best piece of advice for litigants and/or attorneys?

DS: Be polite. As a defendant, you are talking to the authority that may have your life in their hands. Be proper and truthful. The judge always reads reports and motions to be ready to hear arguments.

VLM: What is your passion outside of law?

DS: My passion outside court is my family. My wife of 31 years who is a Las Vegas native, and my three sons and two daughters-in-law.

VLM: What do you love most about Vegas?

DS: I love the variety of issues that I have to be prepared to rule on and the citizens of Clark County who look to their judges as a guardian of a part of their lives in Las Vegas.