Sunethra Muralidhara
Experienced in both criminal and civil law, Ms. Muralidhara has a strong commitment to fighting injustice throughout the legal system. Primarily representing those accused of crimes in federal court, Ms. Muralidhara’s main focus is to protect the constitutional rights of the accused.
Ms. Muralidhara’s client-centered approach focuses on a thorough breakdown and analysis of each clients’ case with additional investigation to ensure that everyone’s rights are protected. Ms. Muralidhara prides herself on her candidness and top-notch negotiation skills to provide the best possible outcome for each of her clients.
She has extensive knowledge in litigating all types of fraud cases, money laundering, theft and embezzlement, drug crimes, gun crimes, sexual abuse, child pornography, assault and battery, robbery, kidnapping, murder, illegal reentry, various conspiracy charges, federal petty and misdemeanor offenses, and supervised release violations. She has also prepared Applications for Clemency (Pardons and Commutations), Motions for Early Termination, Motions for Compassionate Release, and even petitioned the Bureau of Prisons, assisting clients with the administrative process while incarcerated. She has a knack for preparing and presenting substantial client mitigation for sentencing and obtaining just results for her clients.
Ms. Muralidhara serves as a member on the Nevada Board of Continuing Legal Education, an Arbitrator and Mediator for the Nevada State Bar’s Fee Dispute Committee, and is the Co-Chair of the New Lawyers Committee for the Clark County Bar Association.
Ms. Muralidhara is a Vegas Inc. Top Criminal Lawyer for 2021. She also served as an Alternate Judge in the Las Vegas Municipal Court from 2019-2021, presiding over misdemeanor criminal offenses. She is a former Assistant Federal Public Defender.
Practice Areas
- Criminal Defense—State and Federal
- Federal Appeals and Post-Conviction Relief
- Applications for Federal Clemency (Pardons and Commutations)
- Federal Sentencing
- Record Sealing
Bar Admissions
- Admitted to the Nevada Bar, 2014
- U.S. District Court, District of Nevada, 2014
- U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit, 2017
- State Bar of Nevada, Member
- Clark County Bar Association, Member
- American Inns of Court, Member 2016-Present
- Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice, Member
Education
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois
- J.D. graduated Cum Laude - 2014
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- B.A. with Distinction and Academic Honors - 2011
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Vegas Inc’s Top Lawyer 2021—Criminal Lawyer
- New Lawyer Committee Co-Chair for the Clark County Bar Association 2020-Present
- Appointed Arbitrator & Mediator, Nevada State Bar Fee Dispute Panel of Las Vegas, 2015-Present
- Nevada Board of Legal Education—Board of Governors Appointee, 2021-Present
- Appointed Las Vegas Municipal Court Alternate Judge 2018-2021
- Las Vegas Indian Chamber of Commerce Board Member, 2015-2016
- Circle of Advocates Mentor—Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Past Employment Positions
- Federal Public Defender, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2015-2018
- Morris Polich & Purdy, LLP, 2014-2015
- Judicial Extern with Federal Magistrate Judge Michael Mason, Northern District of Illinois, 2014
Publications
- Taught Continuing Legal Education Seminars:
- Johnson v. United States, 135 S. Ct. 2551 (2015) (Federal Public Defender and CJA Attorneys)
- How to Conduct a Successful Arbitration and Mediation (State Bar of Nevada Fee Dispute Committee) Oct. 2020
- Published author and poet in the book: Letters to the President
- American Bar Association Preview: Burrage v. United States, 2013
- Loyola University Chicago ChildLaw Ed. Institute Forum 2012
- ChildLaw Forum, Checking the Box on Racial Classifications Race Based Admissions Policies in Higher Education
