Section Menu

Meet Public Defender Nancy Lemcke

The Public Defender's Office is lead by Nancy Lemcke, Esq.

A 25-year veteran of the Clark County Public Defender’s office and a former Children’s Attorney with the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, Clark County Public Defender Nancy Lemcke has dedicated her career to representing some of the most vulnerable members of the Clark County community. Ms. Lemcke has tried numerous felony cases to verdict, including both capital and non-capital homicide cases. She is qualified to defend death penalty cases pursuant to Nevada Supreme Court Rule 250. Ms. Lemcke’s litigation work includes the development and implementation of impact litigation campaigns aimed at systemic criminal justice reforms. She has argued multiple cases before the Nevada Supreme Court, including the 2020 landmark bail reform case of Valdez-Jimenez v. Eighth Judicial District Court. Ms. Lemcke has also championed various justice-related legislative initiatives in Nevada, including Assembly Bill 267, which established Nevada’s state-wide exoneree compensation fund. Ms. Lemcke has practiced at all levels of Nevada Courts as well as the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. Her cases and work have been profiled by various national print and television media, including Vanity Fair, The New York Times, Dateline, and The John Walsh Show.

Ms. Lemcke serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the William S. Boyd School of Law where she teaches Trial Advocacy. She has also served as a member of the Board of Directors for Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice; as a member of the Committee to Draft Pattern Criminal Jury Instructions for Nevada; and as the Nevada State Bar Representative to the Clark County Justice of the Peace Judicial Selection Committee. Ms. Lemcke has lectured at UNLV on various topics relating to criminal justice and has conducted trial advocacy seminars on behalf of legal organizations such as the Clark County Bar Association. She has also served as a judge for the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement’s “We the People” constitutional law competition for Nevada high school students.

Ms. Lemcke was awarded the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award by Nevada Attorney Attorneys for Criminal Justice; named 2019 Defender of the Year by the Clark County Public Defender; and honored with a 2020 Legal Excellence Award by Vegas Legal magazine.

Ms. Lemcke was appointed Clark County Public Defender in 2024 by the Clark County Board of Commissioners. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles and a J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law.

scales-of-justice1.jpg
The office has specialized teams dedicated to juvenile court, homicide cases, sexual assault cases and appeals. In addition, the office has a dedicated training officer who has developed an extensive training program for new attorneys and provides continued legal education for experienced staff. The office also has a nationally recognized litigation support department.