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Michael Cherry oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02160

Abstract

Oral history interview with Michael A. Cherry conducted by Barbara Tabach on September 19, 2014 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Justice Michael Cherry talks about how he came to Las Vegas, Nevada and his work as a public defender and as a lawyer in private practice. He also discusses his involvement with Jewish organizations in various capacities, and his involvement with high-profile cases such as the MGM Grand and Las Vegas Hilton fires, earning him the nickname "master of disaster."

Archival Collection

Justice Michael Cherry oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00178

Abstract

Oral history interview with Nevada Supreme Court Justice Michael Cherry conducted by Michael Geeser on April 10, 2006 for the I Remember When: Recollections from Las Vegas Jewish Leaders Oral History Project. Cherry talks about his legal career, and about being Jewish in Las Vegas. He also discusses his board membership at Temple Beth Sholom and serving as president of Temple Ner Tamid, as well as his activities in B'nai B'rith District 4. The interview concludes with questions from the audience.

Archival Collection

Transcript of interview with Justice Michael Cherry by Barbara Tabach, September 19, 2014

Date

2014-09-19

Description

Interview with Justice Michael Cherry by Barbara Tabach on September 19, 2014. In this interview, Justice Cherry talks about how he came to Las Vegas and his work as a public defender and as a lawyer in private practice. He also discusses his involvement with Jewish organizations in various capacities, and his involvement with high-profile cases such as the MGM Grand and Las Vegas Hilton fires, earning him the nickname "master of disaster."

Justice Michael Cherry was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and went on to spend his childhood in the Jewish neighborhood of University City. He attended University of Missouri and became a leader in his fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi, and a committed ROTC cadet. By the time Justice Cherry graduated from Missouri and was heading to Washington University School of Law, he was a second lieutenant; halfway through law school, he was promoted to first lieutenant. It was also during law school that he married his college sweetheart, Rachel Wolfson. When a bad back prevented him from becoming an active air force officer, he and his wife decided to follow his mother to Las Vegas. Justice Cherry worked both as a law clerk with the Public Defender's Office as well as a security guard at Wonder World when he first moved to the city. After passing the Nevada bar, Cherry took at position with the Public Defender's Office, and later went into private practice as a successful criminal defense attorney. Cherry was elected as district judge in 1998 and 2002. In 2006, he won his campaign for state Supreme Court justice. Justice Cherry was reelected to office in 2012 for another four-year term. He is currently the highest-positioned Jewish official in the state of Nevada. Throughout his years in Las Vegas, Justice Cherry has been an extremely active and influential member of the Jewish community and served as chairman of the Anti-Defamation League and is active in the Jewish Federation. Justice Cherry attributes his commitment to service to his mother. In addition to his service to the Jewish community, he has been active in numerous other service organizations, including March of Dimes, Olive Crest, Adoption Exchange and American Cancer Society.

Text

Audio clip from interview with Justice Michael Cherry, September 19, 2014

Date

2014-09-19

Description

Part of an interview with Justice Michael Cherry on September 19, 2014. In this interview, Justice Cherry discusses connections with Jewish casino operators. He also talks about losing to, then representing, unions in court proceedings. He was later endorsed by the unions when he ran for office.

Sound

Photograph of unidentified man, Brian Sandoval, Henry and Lillian Kronberg, and Michael Cherry at formal event, 2003

Date

2003

Archival Collection

Description

The group poses for a picture at a formal event.

Image

Jewish Federation correspondence, meeting minutes, and other records, item 17

Description

Community Relations Committee meeting mintues for the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, Nevada, March 28, 1988.

Anti-Defamation League event, image 18

Description

L-R: Michael Cherry and unidentified

Anti-Defamation League event, image 24

Description

L-R: Michael Cherry and two unidentified individuals

Anti-Defamation League event, image 16

Description

L-R: Harry Reid, Michael Cherry, and Art Marshall

Photograph of event, undated

Description

Michael Cherry (second from left) and others with awards