Cynthia Dustin-Cruz at a glance
- Current role
- Justice of the Peace
- Jurisdiction
- Nevada · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends January 7, 2031
Cynthia Dustin-Cruz
Justice of the Peace · Nevada Las Vegas Township Justice Court
Biography
Professional career
- She has been on the bench since 2012 and is the only judge in her department
- Cynthia Dustin‐Cruz is the nonpartisan presiding judge for Department 5 of the Las Vegas Township Justice Court in Nevada, serving a term that ends January 6, 2031
- Dustin‐Cruz was re‐elected on November 5, 2024 to continue as Department 5 judge, defeating Madilyn Leavitt Cole in a nonpartisan general election
- Elected to the Las Vegas Justice Court in 2012 and has handled criminal, civil, eviction, traffic, and initial appearance cases
- During law school, she served on the Moot Court Appellate Advocacy team, worked in the Juvenile Justice Department, and clerked for Judge James C. Mahan Clark County Justice Court
- After law school, Dustin‐Cruz clerked for Judge Jackie Glass in Nevada’s Eighth Judicial District Court, then served as an associate attorney before opening her own law practice.
Education
Additional information
- In September 2024, she resigned as Chief Judge to focus on bench duties
- She has received multiple honors, including the Bob Gray Community Partner Award (2017) and the Outstanding Women of the Year award (2023, 2024 Lifetime Achievement).
- From 2019 to 2021, she was Vice‐Chief Judge and chaired key committees.
- She has led the Drug Court program (2016) and DUI Treatment Court (2019)
- She graduated from Bonanza High School in 1985, obtained a B.S. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in 1993, and a J.D. from UNLV’s William S. Boyd School of Law in 2003.
- Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, she moved to Las Vegas in 1969.
- She is affiliated with the Nevada State Bar, Clark County Bar Association, American Judges Association, and other judicial and legal organizations
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
Nevada prohibits using cameras, cellular phones, or other electronic devices to photograph or record courtroom proceedings unless the judge expressly permits it.
the use of cameras, cellular phones or other electronic devices to photograph or record courtroom proceedings without the express permission of the judge is prohibitedNevada Rules on Electronic Coverage of Court Proceedings ↗
Advance Media Request
Statewide
Nevada news reporters seeking electronic courtroom coverage must file a written request with the judge at least 24 hours before the proceeding, subject to judicial discretion.
News reporters desiring permission to provide electronic coverage of a proceeding in the courtroom shall file a written request with the judge at least 24 hours before the proceeding commencesNevada Rules on Electronic Coverage of Court Proceedings ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Nevada Rules on Electronic Coverage of Court Proceedings
Nevada Las Vegas Township Justice Court
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 26, 2026.
Nevada Judiciary official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Nevada Judiciary official judicial roster ↗Nevada Rules on Electronic Coverage of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Nevada Rules on Electronic Coverage of Court Proceedings ↗