The theme of family is one that we carry with us throughout our lives. We are born in a family and remain a part of it for most of our lives. We also start families. Some of us also make the families of other people a part of their own lives.
Mathew Harter was no exception. He served as a judge in the Family Court Division at the Clark County District Court for more than 14 year. In his Family Court Department N Judge Harter was faced with issues that can break people’s hearts and destroy lives.
Judge Harter died unexpectedly on November 9, 2022, in Las Vegas. He was 56. The Harter family asked that donations be made in memory of the judge to Crisis Support Services of Nevada.
Judge Harter’s work as a Family Court judge weighed heavily on him. Alexa Harter, the daughter of Judge Harter, spoke in a 2022 edition of Vegas Legal Magazine about her father’s concerns.
It’s a little stressful. I worry about what might happen to the child I have chosen. Mathew Harter said to his daughter Alexa, “I always (err on the side) of caution.” Even my wife has said that I internalize more since I became a judge. I don’t speak as much. When I was in judicial college, they warned me that it is an isolating job.
Judge Harter of Logandale, Nevada, considered how to deal with the enormous responsibility.
He told Alexa, a year before, that he should work more on his mindfulness. “I have to ensure that I am as informed as possible about each case so I can make an educated decision .”
In early 2022, Judge Harter told his daughter that family court could be “brutal”. Someone is going to be devastated. All parties can be angry at times.
Before responding, the judge thought about the question. There is no civility in family court. The Reno-born Judge said, “These people are brutal…I do not live my life afraid but I do live my living aware.”
The anger is often directed at the judge who makes the difficult decisions.
Mathew Harter confessed to his daughter Alexa that he received death threats quite often in 2022. It’s real.
Judge Harter’s profound responsibility in his position was not a cause for concern.
In early 2022, he said to his daughter Alexa, “I feel as though I’m fulfilling one of my life purposes.”
Judge Harter always had the best interests of the children in mind, according to Alexa Harter in early 2022.
“I am not perfect and no judge is either… but I believe I make the right decisions with a high percentage,” concluded Mathew Harter.
A picture montage appeared on the memorial page of Mathew Harter. He was a graduate of Bonanza High School as well as University of Nevada Las Vegas. The slideshow covered the entire life of the father to eight children: family celebrations, vacations graduations and more are captured in pictures, as well as the everyday moments of life. Family was a constant throughout Matthew Harter’s life.
Although Mathew Harter went on to serve as a judge in Family Court, the story of his life could be told by any family.
Alexa Harter recounted her most treasured childhood memories about her father just one year ago in a Vegas Legal piece.
Alexa remembered fondly the days when Alexa’s father was a carefree lawyer, who would rollerblade with us around the neighborhood in classic ’90s fashion. He wore gold chains, muscle tanks, and a lot of gold. “Our friends always said that our father was ‘cool,’ that he had big muscles .'”
Mathew Paul Harder was born in Reno on April 11, 1967. He received his bachelor’s from the University of Nevada Las Vegas after graduating Bonanza High School. Harter received his juris-doctorate in 1994 after graduating from Western Michigan University’s (then Thomas M. Cooley Law School). Mathew Harter became a judge in the Clark County District Court Family Court Division for the first time in 2008. He held that position until his death in November 2022.
Mathew Harter is survived by his wife Brandie, five sons, and three daughters, including Alexa Harter in Beaverton, Ore., Jefferson Harter (Jasmine), Dakota McFarland, Hood River, Ore., Gage Harter (Jin), Hood River, Ore., Grahm Harter (Hood River, Ore.), Paige Harter (Ryan Harter), Chloe Harter (Logandale, Nev.), Ryan His father Alan Harter was also predeceased by his brother Stanley Harter as well as his best friend William Datthyn.
Donations to Crisis Support Services of Nevada can be made at ccsnv.org. The Crisis Support Services of Nevada can be reached at (775)-784-8085. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number is 988.
Valerie Miller, a journalist based in the Las Vegas Valley. She can be reached at (702) 683-3986 or [email protected].
The article Family Ties and Family Court were Priorities for Judge Mathew Harer first appeared on Vegas Legal Magazine.