Vegas Stripped: ‘The captive citizen of Las Vegas’ — VIDEO

Dayvid Figler graduated high school early hoping never to come back to Las Vegas.

Regardless, he came back and passed the bar at age 23 in 1991. He has lived continuously in Vegas since then and has been living in Downtown Las Vegas for 16 years. He became involved in murder cases as a Special Public Defender in 1997, defending 100-plus people and many high-profile cases.

In 2003, Mayor Oscar Goodman appointed him as a judge downtown.The experience changed and added to his perspective of Las Vegas, particularly downtown, for which he is now a strong advocate for its growth and stability.

On the side he writes essays, participates in radio and hosts storytelling events.

He lends himself to any school or non-profit that seeks him out him out for his knowledgable familiarity with Las Vegas, having grown up there and having navigated its judicial system as a both a judge and public defender.

"Vegas Stripped" is a weekly profile series appearing on reviewjournal.com and on the Review-Journal's Facebook page. Find Rachel Aston on Twitter: @rookie__rae