Municipal Court Department 6
Martin Hastings
Martin
Hastings was elected Las Vegas Municipal Court Judge, Department Six, on June
5, 2007. Prior to his election, Judge Hastings spent the majority of his
professional life practicing law in all of the local courts.
Judge Hastings’ 29 years of hands-on experience have given him an understanding
of every aspect of the Municipal Court, from the goals and objectives of the
prosecution to the day-to-day workings of the court system. He built on his
experience as a prosecutor in Municipal Court, as a judge pro tem, as a public
defender and as a private practice attorney, founding his own law firm.
Judge Hastings’ legal career began shortly after earning his juris doctorate
from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1989. He served as law clerk
for the Honorable Joseph Pavlikowsk in Department 3 of District Court, and then
joined the staff of then-City Attorney, Roy Woofter, as prosecutor for the city
of Las Vegas.
Judge Hastings opened his own private law practice in 1993 and practiced in
various areas of the law, concentrating mostly on criminal law until he became
Judge in 2007.
Judge Hastings has been deeply involved in the Las Vegas community. As a former
football player and coach, he volunteered his time in sports for both boys and
girls and sponsored a girls’ soccer team. He has been active in his church by
teaching Sunday school, serving as an usher and lay reader.
As a family man, he and his wife Angela have been married for well over three
decades and are the parents of Brock and Jessica. Judge Hastings understands
the importance of the judiciary in building a safe, compassionate community.
As an innovator in improving the courts, Judge Hastings worked to bring
prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges together to create the Veterans
Treatment Court. This court, which is now in place in the Las Vegas Municipal
Court, is a creative solution designed to diminish the number of repeat
criminal offenders.
Judge Hastings’ goal is to use his extensive legal background, proven innovation
and real life experiences to deliver effective justice within the city of Las
Vegas.