Goodman’s son seeks court post

Local attorney Eric Goodman might just teach his father, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, a thing or two about the law.

The 36-year-old Goodman announced this week he is running for Las Vegas justice of the peace in Department 11, a newly created office.

"I come from a family of lawyers -- my father, grandfather and brother are lawyers. The greatest honor is to be elected to the judiciary," he said Tuesday.

He is so far the only candidate officially running for Department 11 in Las Vegas Justice Court. It is a six-year position.

Goodman, who like his father specializes in criminal defense, is a former partner of the Nevada firm Goodman, Brown and Presrirut.

Goodman received a law degree from Pennsylvania Law School in 1999, interned for the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania and was a law clerk at the Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada.

He said he was inspired to go into the world of law at a young age when he listened to his father discuss cases and trials at the family dinner table. But he said his father didn't influence his decision to run for justice of the peace.

"It's a decision I made on my own because I love the courts so much," he said.

Oscar Goodman is known for his work defending famous organized crime figures, including Meyer Lansky and alleged Chicago mobster Tony "The Ant" Spilotro, but Eric Goodman said he is most proud of his work defending the indigent in Las Vegas.

For his part, Oscar Goodman said he was proud his son was running for justice of the peace and fully supports the decision.

"I had judicial aspirations that dissipated when I became mayor. Now it's Eric's turn," he said.