Article by:
Naiomi Pitre
“It is time for David to conquer Goliath,” Belinda T. Harris shares. “Against all odds, I need the people to see the art of battling a giant and winning!”
Harris should know. Born and raised here in the valley, she grew up as a little black girl in North Las Vegas with a dream of becoming a lawyer one day. Anyone in the know would realize that the odds were stacked against her to bring that dream to fruition, but she dared someone to try and stop her.
She never considered an alternative course, and according to her, there was never another option. For the past thirteen years, Belinda T. has worked tirelessly as a Public Defender. Her current position as a Chief Deputy Public Defender for the Clark County Public Defender’s office places her in the ideal position to serve the community. Even after completing her undergraduate studies at Howard University and attaining her law degree from American University, Washington College of Law, Harris always knew that she would return back to the city that molded her into the attorney she had come to be. In her current position, she tries a wide range of cases from jaywalking to homicide, always exemplifying her mantra of being bold, tough, and honest (#BTH), characteristics that happen to coincide with the initials of her name.
Belinda T. has committed herself to being a true “people’s lawyer”, being sure to see the bigger picture and take into careful consideration how the cases that she argues will ultimately affect the people’s lives who are involved in the long term. She plans to take this same effective stance with her into the North Las Vegas Justice Court, where she is running for the seat as Justice of the Peace in Department 3, during the upcoming 2020 election.
“It is my responsibility to ensure that the status quo – or the way things have always been done – is not only challenged, but conquered,” Harris declares.
The upcoming election has created excitement amongst many in and around the justice system of Las Vegas. For the first time in history, not only are there six female public defenders running for a judicial seat, but four of them are black, and one is Latina.
“This has never happened before. I need people to understand that hope dies last! If a girl who was raised up in public schools in North Las Vegas can become a public defender and run for the office of Justice of the Peace, so can you!” Belinda T. exclaims. “Be a part of the solution. Be yourself, and run a race that you are proud of.”
Belinda T. Harris is proud of maintaining her authentic self. She looks forward to being able to serve her community in an even greater capacity than she already has. Harris has been a consistent servant to Las Vegas, whether it was in the form of supporting back to school events with elected officials or helping up and coming non-profit organizations. She encourages you to make your vote count this year.
“Diversity is necessary to ensure accurate representation,” she states matter-of-factly. “Our community depends on you getting out to vote.”
To learn more about Ms. Belinda T. Harris, Esq., and to follow her campaign, please visit www.belinda4judge.com.
