George Kelesis, a seasoned attorney with a legal career in Las Vegas spanning over four decades, has been nominated by the Trump administration to serve as the U.S. attorney for Nevada. The White House made the announcement on Wednesday, signaling Kelesis’s potential ascension to one of the top prosecutorial positions in the state.
Kelesis is a partner at Cook & Kelesis, a law firm based in Las Vegas. His nomination will require confirmation by the U.S. Senate, but Nevada’s Democratic senators, Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto, were not immediately available for comment regarding the nomination.
Previously, Sigal Chattah was appointed by the Trump administration to serve as the interim U.S. attorney for Nevada, a position she held from March before being extended as acting U.S. attorney in July. Chattah had been involved in significant initiatives such as the establishment of a “Public Corruption Strike Force,” although she was never confirmed by the Senate.
Kelesis has a strong background in law and public service. His bio details that he has practiced law in Las Vegas since 1981, served on the Nevada Tax Commission, and taught as an adjunct professor at the Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
As Kelesis waits for his confirmation, the Nevada legal community anticipates the impact of his potential appointment, which could bring a wealth of experience and local insight to the federal prosecution office. The nomination marks a significant step in Kelesis’s career and a chance for him to influence legal proceedings at the federal level in Nevada.