LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — A high-profile Las Vegas attorney has received a reprimand for mishandling the appeal for the man who attacked a Clark County District Court judge.
The Nevada Supreme Court issued an order Friday approving the agreement reached between Carl Arnold and the State Bar.
According to the order, Arnold failed to file several documents related to a client’s appeal for a criminal conviction, did not prepare an opening brief and did not review transcripts. He was removed as counsel of record as a result.
Carl Arnold, the attorney representing Duane Davis, speaks to reporters after a court hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. (George Romero | KSNV)
“Arnold admitted to committing the violations with a knowing mental state and stipulated his misconduct resulted in injury to the client,” the Supreme Court wrote in its order.
The attorney received a six-month suspension from practicing law, stayed for one year. He will have to cooperate with a mentor, who will provide quarterly reports to the State Bar during the stay period. He will also have to pay for the costs of the disciplinary proceedings and avoid any other reprimands during that one-year stay.
“I appreciate, understand and will comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling,” Arnold told News 3 in an email on Monday. “I never intentionally would miss a Court’s deadline and instructions but I will always exhaustively extend myself to help others and be their voice when facing this criminal justice system.”
While the client at issue is not named, an order was filed last year as part of Deobra Redden’s appeal. It stated that Arnold was being removed as Redden’s attorney and referred to the State Bar for sanctions.
“Mr. Arnold’s failure to comply with this court’s rules, notices, and orders has forced this court to divert its limited resources to ensure his compliance and needlessly delayed the processing of this appeal,” states the order, dated April 1, 2025. “Therefore, Mr. Arnold is removed as counsel in this appeal.”
Redden attacked Judge Mary Kay Holthus during a sentencing hearing back in 2024, with video of the incident quickly going viral.
He later pleaded guilty but mentally ill to charges including attempted murder, battery, and intimidating a public officer. Another judge sentenced him to 26 to 65 years in prison for the attack.
Arnold also briefly represented Duane Davis, the man charged with murder in the fatal shooting of rap icon Tupac Shakur.
Davis changed attorneys in 2025, but the replacement, Robert Draskovich, filed to withdraw from the case last week.
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