Walker and Pellizzari Will Face Off in November
The general election for Las Vegas Municipal Court Department 1 is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Elections
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Incumbent Judge Matthew Walker and challenger Amanda Pellizzari will compete in the upcoming Las Vegas Municipal Court Department 1 general election. The two advanced to the final round following the June primary election.
Why it matters
The winner of the November 3 contest will preside over the city court through 2028, impacting how misdemeanor cases and municipal ordinances are handled locally. Residents will decide between an appointed incumbent and a private practitioner for the seat.
Pellizzari earned 36 percent of the vote in the June primary, outpacing Walker at 33.3 percent among 68,000 total ballots cast. While Walker received a 94.3 percent retention recommendation in the 2025 Judicial Performance Evaluation, the impact of these figures on the final ballot is unknown.
The players
Matthew Walker
The incumbent judge for Las Vegas Municipal Court Department 1 appointed by the City Council in 2025.
Amanda Pellizzari
A criminal lawyer and alternate judge for the Las Vegas Municipal Court running for the Department 1 seat.
Las Vegas City Council
The local governing body responsible for the 2025 appointment of Matthew Walker to the municipal bench.
The details
Walker was appointed to the bench by the Las Vegas City Council in February 2025 and currently serves as the Department 1 judge. His opponent, Pellizzari, is a criminal lawyer and alternate judge who has operated the Law Office of Amanda Pellizzari, LLC since 2020. Early voting for the general election begins on October 17, with the final results set to be decided on November 3.
Timeline
Early voting for the general election begins on October 17.
The general election occurs on November 3, 2026.
Beyond the Strip
The race follows the 2025 Judicial Performance Evaluation, which serves as the primary benchmark for local judicial candidate reviews. This election marks a test of whether that specific retention score translates into voter support against a private-sector challenger.
Voters should prepare for the start of early voting on October 17 to participate in the municipal court selection. The outcome determines who will serve as the Department 1 judge for the next term through 2028.
The takeaway
Voters can review the judicial performance records to compare the candidates before casting ballots. Early voting begins on October 17 ahead of the final November 3 election.
What happens next
Early voting for the general election begins on October 17, followed by the general election on November 3, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about local races at Elections.
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