Don P. Chairez

Don P. Chairez was a Nevada attorney and former Clark County District Judge whose legal career spanned four decades. Born September 29, 1955, in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he earned his Juris Doctor from the USC School of Law in 1980. In 1990 he joined the Clark County District Attorney's Office as a deputy district attorney, spending roughly three and a half years prosecuting criminal cases.

In 1994, Chairez was appointed to the Eighth Judicial District Court by Governor Bob Miller. On the bench he became known for decisions protecting small property owners - among them Carol Pappas and the Aztec Casino - against eminent domain actions by the City of Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency. In 1996 he was honored by the Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs as 'Judge of the Year.' In 1998 he resigned his judgeship to make an unsuccessful run for the U.S. House of Representatives against Shelley Berkley, losing by roughly 5,000 votes.

Following his congressional campaign, Chairez returned to private practice, winning several cases before the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2019 he returned to public service as a prosecutor, serving as a Deputy District Attorney for Nye County under District Attorney Chris Arabia. He died January 21, 2021, in Las Vegas from COVID-19 at the age of 65.