Edward M. Bernstein
Encyclopedia
Edward M. Bernstein is a noted Southern Nevada
attorney
, philanthropist
, politician
, and TV talk show host.
in New York with his bachelors degree in 1971. In 1975, he completed his law degree
from Widener University
Law School.
Bernstein moved to Southern Nevada in 1976 where he took a job in Las Vegas
as a public defender
. He started his own private practice, Edward M. Bernstein & Associates, where he found most of his success. His law firm, started when Las Vegas was still a small gaming boomtown
, and later represented many high profile cases in Nevada, which brought about much of his regional fame. Bernstein used this fame to champion many causes including MADD
(where he introduced the first Red-Ribbon Campaign which garnered national attention later) and the Anti-Defamation League
.He has represented clients in major cases in Las Vegas as the MGM and Hilton Fires, the Pepcon explosion as well as the hepititis outbreak at the Endoscopy clinic. He has also played an instrumental role in advocating funds and awareness for Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, a charity that has a personal interest for him since his daughter was diagnosed with the disease. He has served as a Judge pro tem in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas as well as a State hearing officer for the Dept.of Administration. He has also served on various Nevada Supreme Court committees, U.S. District Court and Nevada State Bar Committees. He was also a member of the Nevada Psychology Board.
In 2000, Bernstein ran an unsuccessful campaign against John Ensign
(R-NV) as the Democratic candidate for the United States Senate
, to replace long time outgoing Senator Richard Bryan
(D-NV).
He currently resides in Las Vegas with his three daughters.
show. The Ed Bernstein Show is a talk show that has featured such noteworthy guests as former President Bill Clinton
, former Vice President Al Gore
, former boxing great George Foreman
, actor Anthony Hopkins, CNN
correspondent Wolf Blitzer
, as well as a bevy of entertainers such as Kelsey Grammer
, Dan Aykroyd
, Robert Urich
, Regis Philbin
, Leslie Nielsen
, and many more.
He shares his name with the main character in R.J Ellory's 'City of Lies' novel.
Federal
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and TV talk show host.
History
Bernstein graduated Long Island UniversityLong Island University
Long Island University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U.S. state of New York.-History:...
in New York with his bachelors degree in 1971. In 1975, he completed his law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from Widener University
Widener University
Widener University is a private, coeducational university located in Chester, Pennsylvania.Its main campus sits on 108 acres , just southwest of Philadelphia...
Law School.
Bernstein moved to Southern Nevada in 1976 where he took a job in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
as a public defender
Public defender
The term public defender is primarily used to refer to a criminal defense lawyer appointed to represent people charged with a crime but who cannot afford to hire an attorney in the United States and Brazil. The term is also applied to some ombudsman offices, for example in Jamaica, and is one way...
. He started his own private practice, Edward M. Bernstein & Associates, where he found most of his success. His law firm, started when Las Vegas was still a small gaming boomtown
Boomtown
A boomtown is a community that experiences sudden and rapid population and economic growth. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although the term can also be applied to communities growing very rapidly for different reasons,...
, and later represented many high profile cases in Nevada, which brought about much of his regional fame. Bernstein used this fame to champion many causes including MADD
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a non-profit organization in the United States that seeks to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and overall push for stricter alcohol policy...
(where he introduced the first Red-Ribbon Campaign which garnered national attention later) and the Anti-Defamation League
Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
.He has represented clients in major cases in Las Vegas as the MGM and Hilton Fires, the Pepcon explosion as well as the hepititis outbreak at the Endoscopy clinic. He has also played an instrumental role in advocating funds and awareness for Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, a charity that has a personal interest for him since his daughter was diagnosed with the disease. He has served as a Judge pro tem in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas as well as a State hearing officer for the Dept.of Administration. He has also served on various Nevada Supreme Court committees, U.S. District Court and Nevada State Bar Committees. He was also a member of the Nevada Psychology Board.
In 2000, Bernstein ran an unsuccessful campaign against John Ensign
John Ensign
John Eric Ensign is a former United States Senator from Nevada, serving from January 2001 until he resigned amid an investigation of an ethics violation in May 2011...
(R-NV) as the Democratic candidate for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, to replace long time outgoing Senator Richard Bryan
Richard Bryan
Richard Hudson "Dick" Bryan is an American politician. He served as the 25th Governor of the U.S. state of Nevada from 1983 to 1989. He is a former United States Senator from Nevada. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life:...
(D-NV).
He currently resides in Las Vegas with his three daughters.
The Ed Bernstein Show
Even with a busy law practice, Ed Bernstein hosts the state of Nevada's longest-running televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
show. The Ed Bernstein Show is a talk show that has featured such noteworthy guests as former President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, former Vice President Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
, former boxing great George Foreman
George Foreman
George Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
, actor Anthony Hopkins, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
correspondent Wolf Blitzer
Wolf Blitzer
Wolf Isaac Blitzer is an American journalist who has been a CNN reporter since 1990. Blitzer is currently the host of the newscast The Situation Room and was the host of the Sunday talk show Late Edition until it was discontinued on January 11, 2009...
, as well as a bevy of entertainers such as Kelsey Grammer
Kelsey Grammer
Allen Kelsey Grammer is an American actor and comedian. He is most widely known for his two-decade portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the sitcoms Cheers and Frasier...
, Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd
Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
, Robert Urich
Robert Urich
Robert Urich was an American actor. He played the starring roles in the television series Vega$ and Spenser: For Hire...
, Regis Philbin
Regis Philbin
Regis Francis Xavier Philbin is an American media personality, actor and singer, known for hosting talk and game shows since the 1960s. Philbin is often called "the hardest working man in show business" and holds the Guinness World Record for the most time spent in front of a television camera...
, Leslie Nielsen
Leslie Nielsen
Leslie William Nielsen, OC was a Canadian and naturalized American actor and comedian. Nielsen appeared in more than one hundred films and 1,500 television programs over the span of his career, portraying more than 220 characters...
, and many more.
He shares his name with the main character in R.J Ellory's 'City of Lies' novel.
Admitted to Practice
State- New Jersey Supreme CourtNew Jersey Supreme CourtThe New Jersey Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It has existed in three different forms under the three different state constitutions since the independence of the state in 1776...
- Nevada Gaming CommissionNevada Gaming CommissionThe Nevada Gaming Commission is a Nevada state governmental agency involved in the regulation of casinos throughout the state, along with the Nevada Gaming Control Board. It was founded in 1959 by the Nevada Legislature....
- Supreme Court of NevadaSupreme Court of NevadaThe Supreme Court of Nevada is the state supreme court of Nevada. It is the highest judicial body of the Nevada state government.There are seven Justices of the court, who are elected to six-year terms in officially nonpartisan elections. The Governor appoints Justices in the case of a vacancy...
- Supreme Court of PennsylvaniaSupreme Court of PennsylvaniaThe Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the court of last resort for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It meets in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
Federal
- United States District Court for the District of NevadaUnited States District Court for the District of NevadaThe United States District Court for the District of Nevada is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Nevada. The court has locations in Las Vegas and Reno....
- United States District Court for the District of PennsylvaniaUnited States District Court for the District of PennsylvaniaThe following are former United States district courts, which ceased to exist because they were subdivided into smaller units. With the exception of California, each of these courts initially covered an entire U.S. state, and was subdivided as the jurisdictions which they covered increased in...
- United States District Court for the District of New JerseyUnited States District Court for the District of New JerseyThe United States District Court for the District of New Jersey is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of New Jersey....
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
- Supreme Court of the United StatesSupreme Court of the United StatesThe Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
Honors and awards
- Community Heroes Award - National Conference of Christians and Jews
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving Award
- Professionalism Award - Clark County Bar Association
- Citizens Committee on Victims' Rights Award
- The American Muslim Women of Nevada Community Service Award
- The Executive of the Year - Professional Secretaries International
- Distinguished Men in Southern Nevada
- Community Achievement - Women's American ORT
- Outstanding Young Men of America