Matt Lay is running for Municipal Judge, bringing a career dedicated to fairness and public service in the Nevada legal system. A resident of Las Vegas Ward 1 since 2013, Matt holds a Juris Doctor from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and is admitted to practice before the State Bar of Nevada, the U.S. District Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

For over a decade, Matt has acquired unique experience by serving in nearly every role within the criminal justice system. He currently serves as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Henderson, where he is the lead prosecutor for misdemeanor offenses. He also represents the City in critical treatment programs, including the Assistance Breaking the Cycle (“ABC”) Court (adult drug court) and Veterans Court, where he collaborates with treatment teams to promote rehabilitation and public safety. Prior to this, Matt spent eleven years in private practice focused on criminal defense, appeals, and post-conviction proceedings. He has also served as a Public Defender, Alternate Public Attorney, and a member of various Indigent Defense Panels across Clark County and Las Vegas Justice Courts, providing quality representation in misdemeanor and felony cases.

Matt Lay’s commitment to the law is evident through his appellate litigation work, including successfully affirming municipal court authority and clarifying jury trial standards in a 2024 Nevada Supreme Court case (Henderson City Attorney v. Cerrone). His broad experience as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney gives him the complete perspective needed to serve with integrity and impartiality on the Municipal Court bench. Matt is married to Rochelle Nguyen and they have two children, Henry and Hannah.