Carl J. Christensen

Carl J. Christensen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 11, 1929, to Marcus Joy and Hazel Christensen. He pursued his higher education at Brigham Young University, the University of Akron, St. Mary's University School of Law, and the University of Utah College of Law. Admitted to the State Bar of Nevada on October 25, 1957, he devoted his professional life to the practice of law in Las Vegas.

Christensen served as a Clark County District Court judge for more than 22 years. On the bench he was known for his readiness to help - when conflicts of interest arose for other judges, he volunteered to take assignments in counties throughout the state. He was also a mentor to those who came after him, hiring the future District Court Judge Valorie Vega as a supervisor of court interpreters, encouraging her to attend law school, and later employing her as a clerk. Colleagues remembered his insistence on the importance of being fully prepared when walking into a courtroom.

His dedication to the law extended well beyond his years on the bench. After leaving the court, he continued to practice alongside his son at a Las Vegas firm, trying his last case at the age of 80. In May 2012, he was honored as a Distinguished Nevadan. Carl J. Christensen died on September 23, 2016, at the age of 86.