Hi there! My name is Mark Karris, and I am running for judge in the Las Vegas Township Justice Court, Department 10. I’d like to take just a moment to introduce myself and let you know why I am the most qualified candidate to become the next judge in Department 10 and why you should vote for me.
Originally from Haverhill, MA, I was the youngest of three boys growing up in a middle class home. My Dad owned a small shoe store in Haverhill, and my Mom taught in the Haverhill public school system. I attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA graduating with a B.A. in Political Science in 1989 and would later attend the New England School of Law in Boston, MA graduating with a J.D. Cum Laude in 1995.
After law school graduation, I worked for the Essex District Attorney’s Office in MA where as an Assistant District Attorney, I handled arraignments, probable cause/dangerousness hearings, motion hearings and bench/jury trials in the prosecution of DUI, drug possession/trafficking, domestic violence, and gun possession crimes. In fact, I spent more than a year assigned to the Domestic Violence Unit in Lynn District Court, one of the busiest district courts in all of Massachusetts.
In 1999, my wife Suzy and I moved to Las Vegas where I began working at the Clark County District Attorney’s Office in Las Vegas. As part of the Appellate Division, I handled all post-conviction appellate files including post-trial motions, post-conviction petitions for writs of habeas corpus, and appellate briefs; I also appeared before the Nevada Supreme Court successfully arguing decisions of the Eighth Judicial District Court, including Chapman v. State, 16 P.3d 432 (2001).
In civil practice since 2000 and on my own since 2003, I have represented large and small businesses in cases involving credit accounts, collections, contract disputes, injunctive actions, and complex business litigation. I have also represented individual clients in criminal defense, personal injury, and auto accidents cases while periodically volunteering with the Clark County Self-Help Center during Landlord/Tenant sessions and the Children’s Attorneys Project (CAP) Program.
For me, family has always played a central role in my life. As a father of three children, I enjoy spending time watching my older daughter perform on stage and my younger daughter compete on the ice. I have been active in supporting Las Vegas youth hockey helping to build girls youth hockey in Las Vegas for the past 5 years. In addition, I have been a member of the Board of Directors for FEAT, Families for Effective Autism Treatment for the past 6 years. After our son was diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum, Suzy and I have devoted ourselves to helping our son and the Las Vegas autism community by raising awareness, advocating for services, and fundraising to support those in need.
I am a man of Christian faith which has guided me all of my life. Since arriving in Las Vegas in 1999, my family and I have been members of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church and have been active in supporting its mission. A regular volunteer at the Greek Food Festival held every fall, I am also a member of the Parish Council having served in that capacity for more than 4 years.
I have worked with and for some of the best trial attorneys in Las Vegas, and I have personally handled nearly every type of criminal and civil matter that the Justice Court has jurisdiction over during the past 23 years.
I am running for judge in the Las Vegas Township Justice Court, Department 10 because I am the most qualified candidate, and I will apply the law as it is written, equally and impartially to all those who would appear in Department 10. Thank you for taking some time to get to know me and feel free to reach out to me with any questions/concerns.
