MATTHEW HARTER - DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, FAMILY DIVISION DEPARTMENT N

MEET THE INCUMBENT – Matthew Harter

Family Court, Department N

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

8TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, positions held with the court:

DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, FAMILY DIVISION, DEPT. N (Elected in 2008; Re-elected in 2014; unopposed in 2020)

ARTICLES

“Issues Surrounding Relocation,” COMMUNIQUÉ (June/July 2019)

“Registration of Foreign Judgments at Family Court,” COMMUNIQUÉ (December 2018)

(Personal) “Farwell Marshal Bill,” VEGAS LEGAL MAGAZINE (Winter 2017)

“Alleging Child Abuse/Neglect in Custody Cases,” COMMUNIQUÉ (June/July 2017) (and on cover)

REPUBLISHED WITH PERMISSION OF CCBA IN NFLR

“Unreimbursed Medical Expenses and Enforcement under IV-D,” NFLR (Spring 2016)

“5 Things Attorneys Need to Know About Costs,” COMMUNIQUÉ (January 2016)

“Annulments: Not Easy by Design,” COMMUNIQUÉ (June/July 2015)

“3 Mandatory Rules Pervasively Not Followed at Family Court”

“Attorney’s Fees at Family Court,” COMMUNIQUÉ (August 2013) (and on cover)

ASSOCIATIONS

American Judge’s Association; Judicial Family Institute; Nevada District Judge Association; State Bar of Nevada, Family Law Section; Clark County Bar Association.

CERTIFICATES

Achievement in Judicial Education by Supreme Court of Nevada; General Jurisdiction, Ethics, & Substance Abuse, all 3 from Nevada Judicial College; Negotiation Skills for Judicial Officers by Family Mediation Center; Certificate of Appreciation by ONE Promise Nevada (pro bono organization).

COMMITTEES

Security; School Board; various hiring committees for Family Court.

ARBITRATOR (2004 to December 2008), mandatory arbitration of civil cases under NAR 3

LAW CLERK (April 1994 to August 1995), to the Hon. Gerald W. Hardcastle, Family Division, Dept. D

MATHEW HARTER, ESQ., Attorney at Law (August 1995 to December 2008)

Solo attorney practicing primarily in Family Law (I personally handled over 9,000 Family Court cases as an attorney, including court-appointed in NRS 432B abuse/neglect cases), also in the areas of Personal Injury and Criminal Law (including court-appointed counsel for indigent juveniles and adults). Practice included appearing in federal, state (including appellate cases), county, almost every city/township’s court in Clark County and various administrative hearings (e.g., Worker’s Compensation).

ASSOCIATIONS DURING LAW PRACTICE

American Inn of Court; American Bar Association, Family Law Section; State Bar of Nevada, Family Law Section; Nevada Trial Lawyers Association; Clark County Bar Association; Nevada Legal Services

(pro bono attorney for indigent clients); Family Law Self-Help Center (participant of free Ask-a-Lawyer program).

CLARK COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE, Contract Attorney (1996 to 2004)

Represented mentally ill patients at commitment hearings (NRS 433A) and also parolees at violation hearings (NRS 213).

ALAN R. HARTER, ESQ., Attorney at Law (father), Law Clerk (during/ following law school); Legal Runner (in teenage years).

EDUCATION

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY, THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL, Juris Doctorate Cum Laude, Ostrander Class (January 1994)

Law Review, Associate Editor; awarded with multiple Academic-Based Scholarships; Scholastic Review Board, Chief Hearing Officer; Recipient of the Harry A. Gair Memorial Scholarship Award for Intramural Moot Court Finals; 1992 National Moot Court Team, received the American Jurisprudence Award (only 1 awarded), then selected to serve as Chancellor (co-instructor) of the next National Moot Court Team; Sixty Plus Inc. (Elder Law clinic), Legal Intern (represented indigent, elderly clients); Cooley Clinic, Inc., Legal Intern (set up non-profit corps.). UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS

VEGAS (UNLV), Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, 1988

BONANZA HIGH SCHOOL, Las Vegas, Nevada, Class of 1984

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Judge of UNLV Moot Court Finals; Judge of high school Moot Court Finals; Career Day speaker.; Boy Scouts of America, leader; Cub Scouts, leader; Coach of both girls & boys basketball teams for Clark County Parks & Recreation; Coach of Little League Baseball (multiple years).

PERSONAL

Proud Native Nevadan. Born in Reno, raised in Las Vegas, moved to Logandale in 2006. Employed by Smith’s Management Corp. (Smith’s Food King) from 1986-90 until I left for law school in Michigan. I was a member of UFCW, Local 711. Highest position attained was as Swing-Shift Manager of Store #359.

Married with 8 children, 3 grandchildren and 2 more on the way. My wife Brandie is a Native Nevadan, continues to serve on PTO Board at Grant Bowler Elementary School and teaches special needs children. Personal interests include family time, church, cross-training, baseball, four wheeling and target shooting.