18 Years as a Prosecutor… Here’s What I’ve Seen

Today on From the Beach to the Bar, we sit down with Deputy District Attorney Pete Tanel for a conversation that goes beyond the courtroom.Pete shares his journey from growing up in Colorado to serving a mission in Chile, working as a journalist during the 2002 Winter Olympics, and eventually finding his way into law.After starting in insurance defense, Pete realized early on it wasn’t the right fit — leading him to pursue a career as a prosecutor, where he’s now spent over 18 years handling some of the most serious cases in Las Vegas.As the team chief of the Special Victims Unit, Pete works on cases involving crimes against children, domestic violence, and sex trafficking — giving him a unique perspective on both the legal system and the realities people don’t often see.We also talk about his transition toward becoming a judge, what that process looks like, and how his experience in criminal law prepares him for a civil courtroom.