Municipal Court Judge, Dept. 2, City Of Las Vegas

• She has served as a pro tempore judge for 7 years, first appointed on 2019
• Prior job titles:
  • Interim Hearing Master, Fresh Start Specialty Court (specialty court for homeless and indigent defendants)
  • Silver State Liens (2022-present)
  • Attorney & Shareholder at Lipson, Neilson, Cole, Seltzer & Garin, P.C. (2013-2022)
  • Attorney at Gordon & Rees LLP (2011-2013)

• As pro tem judge, she has presided over:
  • Diversion and probation matters
  • Mental health court proceedings
• 15 years of legal service that includes civil litigation, employment law and professional responsibility
  • At Lipson, Neilson, Cole, Seltzer & Garin, P.C., she focused on professional liability defense and employment law.
• Interim Hearing Master
  • As interim Hearing Master, she has presided over arraignments, trials and sentencing. She has ruled on motions to quash, motions to exonerate bonds and bond forfeitures.

Not allowed to discuss because of confidentiality

• Fair and steady hand
  • She believes that a judge needs the right temperament. It’s a hard job, where people yell and give death threats to judges. She knows how to deal with that in a professional manner and still administer justice.
• Puts people first
  • As pro tempore judge, she saw less severe crimes (e.g. traffic violations), so she believes in getting to the root cause of why people commit these crimes. For these crimes, she wants to make sure the consequences they face do not have any snowball consequences (e.g. making sure punishments do not make people lose their job). She believes everyone should have access to justice

• Major donors:
  • Southern Nevada Building Trades Union
  • NV Veterans Association
  • Armed Forces Chamber
  • Veterans in Politics International

• Pick it Up Las Vegas
  • Board Member
  • Mission: This is a non-profit that removes trash from storm drains, tunnels, streets, and parks. The non-profit incentivizes the unhoused to clean up the surrounding areas by paying for bags of trash.
• Catholic Charities of Southern NV
  • She is a frequent volunteer for Meals on Wheels.
• State Bar of Nevada’s Transitioning into Practice Program
  • She is a mentor for attorneys who are in their first five years of practice.
• Other Volunteer Work:
  • Vegas Young Professionals
  • Southern Nevada Association of Women Attorneys
  • Claims & Litigation Management Alliance
  • Defense Research Institute

Assistant city attorney, City of Henderson Lead prosecutor for misdemeanor offenses. Also represents the city in treatment programs: ABC (adult drug court) and Veterans courts. Practice areas in current position: - Criminal prosecution (misdemeanors): As lead prosecutor for the City of Henderson, Lay handles the full range of misdemeanor offenses including DUI, battery, petty theft, trespass and disorderly conduct. Misdemeanor prosecution involves high-volume case loads, rapid case assessment and frequent bench and jury trials. - Specialty court liaison: ABC Court (adult drug court), which is Henderson’s adult drug treatment court, a problem-solving court that offers eligible defendants an alternative to traditional prosecution through a structured program of treatment, supervision and accountability. He serves as the city’s representative in this program, which requires working collaboratively with treatment providers, probation officers and the court. - Specialty court liaison: Veterans Court, which are problem-solving courts modeled on drug courts but designed specifically for veterans whose criminal conduct is connected to service-related issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury or substance abuse. He represents the City of Henderson in this court, reflecting familiarity with the specialized legal and clinical framework governing veteran defendants. Prior job titles: Private practice attorney focused on criminal defense, appeals, and post-conviction proceedings for roughly 11 years. - Represented defendants in misdemeanor and felony matters across Clark County courts, including jury trials, bench trials, appeals and post-conviction proceedings such as habeas corpus petitions. - Served on court-appointed indigent defense panels in Clark County and Las Vegas justice courts, providing representation to defendants who could not afford private counsel. This work is largely misdemeanor and lower-level felony representation in high-volume court settings.

Lay spent 11 years in private practice focused on criminal defense, appeals and post-conviction proceedings. He served as public defender and alternate public attorney. He is currently the lead prosecutor for misdemeanors at the Henderson City Attorney’s Office, representing the city in the ABC (adult drug) and Veterans courts. He also has appellate experience in the case Henderson City Attorney v. Cerrone in 2024 before the Nevada Supreme Court, which successfully affirmed municipal court authority and clarified jury trial standards.

Henderson City Attorney v. Cerrone: In 2024, he argued before the Nevada Supreme Court, affirming municipal court authority and clarifying jury trial standards.

Lay subscribes to the “broken windows” theory of justice. He believes that unaddressed minor criminal problems can metastasize in a neighborhood and invite larger issues, and that municipal courts play a critical frontline role in preventing that escalation. He views the municipal court bench not merely as an adjudicator of minor offenses but as an active instrument of community health and a forum where early, consistent intervention can prevent more serious downstream consequences. He said he plans to prioritize running an efficient and respectful courtroom where all parties, regardless of the nature of the charge, are treated with dignity. Additionally, he intends to increase community outreach efforts from the bench, suggesting that a judge’s role extends beyond the courtroom into public education and civic engagement. Lay said he believes his experience on both sides of the criminal justice system — over a decade in private criminal defense, public defender work, indigent defense panels, and now prosecution — gives him a uniquely complete perspective on how cases are experienced by defendants, victims and the public. He said his work with the veterans and adult drug courts reflect a philosophy that municipal courts can and should incorporate therapeutic and rehabilitative approaches alongside traditional adjudication, not just punitive ones..

He is endorsed by Nevada Association of Public Safety Officers, SEIU Nevada Local 1107, and Laborers' International Union of North America. Contributions: Democratic political committees: Campaign to Elect Rochelle Nguyen ($5,000), Nguyening Leadership ($5,000), Steve Yeager Election Committee ($2,500), Committee to Elect Duy Nguyen ($1,000), Segerblom for County Commission ($1,000), Nevada Para Todos PAC ($500) and Nevada State Democratic Party ($1,000). Criminal defense bar: David Chesnoff ($1,000), Richard Schonfeld ($1,000), Ross Goodman ($1,000), Robert Draskovich ($525), Margaret McCletchie ($500) and Jamie Cogburn ($500). Other notable individual donors: Selena Torres ($2,500), Patrick Maloney ($2,500, Portland OR), Ben Nadig ($2,000), SNAP Towing ($1,500), Joel Mann ($1,500), John Marchiano ($1,500), Shelley Berkley ($500) and Eric Goodman ($500).

Lay has served on indigent defense panels, where attorneys accept appointments to represent low-income defendants, often at reduced rates, ensuring access to counsel for those who cannot afford private representation. He also works with the veterans and adult drug court treatment teams where a multidisciplinary group of legal, clinical and social service professionals collectively supervise and support veteran participants in the program. This collaborative, rehabilitative approach to justice is distinct from traditional adversarial prosecution and reflects a broader philosophy of court-based intervention.

Title: Deputy city attorney for Las Vegas City Attorney Office, criminal division Practice areas: Criminal law (DUI, homicide) Prior job titles: Contract attorney with Mueller and Associates and assistant district attorney in North Carolina’s 1st Judicial District

Murphy represented the State of North Carolina through a jury verdict. She supervised junior assistant district attorneys and junior deputy city attorneys. She is the lead attorney for vehicular crimes in the City of Las Vegas. She screens the individuals coming before her. Murphy also serves on the fatality committee with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and works with the city to reduce motorist/pedestrian accidents.

One significant case for Murphy involved vehicular manslaughter, which went to trial. She drives by the intersection where the crash occured when she picks up her children. She said the case is memorable because the traffic patterns there stick out. She said it was important to seek justice by holding a person responsible for another's death. She had to speak to their next of kin. Murphy said the job is a lot about learning how to read and treat people with dignity, especially because it often involves explaining procedures to someone who may not be familiar with the person being charged. She said the case helped her learn to approach these situations with empathy while protecting the rights of the defendant.

Allycia Murphy said she is committed to bringing fairness, accountability and compassion to the municipal court. Her platform focuses on creating a justice system that serves all members of the community with integrity and forward-thinking leadership. She said it is important to provide access to justice and mental health initiatives. She said her experience in the municipal court is valuable and should help provide her with necessary resources to initiate diversion programs if she is elected to the specialty court position. Murphy said she would like to introduce alternative methods of deterrence and rehabilitation, using these tools as a balance with incarceration, to better the community.

Major donors: Carlos Horne and Robert Bleecker of North Carolina, and the GGRM Law Firm. Endorsements: Retired Las Vegas City Attorney Bryan K. Scott, Clark County District Attorney Steven Wolfson, retired Nevada State Trooper Deborah Huff, attorney Kenneth E. Thomas, Third Branch PAC and Clark County Prosecutors Association.

Murphy is a volunteer with the Just One Project, assisted children with obtaining menstrual hygiene products through Project Maryland, helped police officers and their families when going through a tragedy through Behind the Blue, served food through Three Square and is involved with the Samoan culture nonprofit Tatua Mo Samoa.