Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto took the oath as Nevada's Attorney General in January 2007.

Prior to her service at the Attorney General's Office, General Masto worked as Assistant County Manager for Clark County beginning in January of 2002. Her work involved working with the county's agencies to improve children's services including foster care, adoption services, child welfare services and juvenile justice programs. She created the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative to build a better legal system for juveniles that would ensure youth accountability and the use of appropriate community-based alternatives.

As Assistant County Manager, General Masto also participated on the Southern Nevada Domestic Violence Court Task Force to explore the creation of a unified domestic violence court. In addition to her role on the taskforce, she worked with various community partners to seek federal funding to create a Family Justice Center to prove services and support to domestic violence victims.

General Masto worked on the development and implementation of the Criminal Justice Advisory Counsel. The Advisory Counsel's mission is to produce an efficient working relationship, promote the use of best practices and improve communication among the departments within the criminal justice system.

Prior to working at Clark County, General Masto spent two years as a federal criminal prosecutor for the United States Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C. During her tenure as an Assistant United States Attorney, she prosecuted criminals for felony possession and distribution of drugs. She also protected the rights of victims from stalkers and batterers.

In September 1995, General Masto was appointed to work in Governor Bob Miller's administration. During her initial years in Miller's administration she ran his southern Nevada office, provided supporting legal counsel, organized legislation for new state programs, facilitated public policy and managed intergovernmental affairs for various state agencies and commissions.

In July 1998, Governor Miller appointed General Masto to be his Chief of Staff. As Chief of Staff, she supervised and managed the Governor's office and was liaison between the Governor's office and the 23 members of the Governor's cabinet.

General Masto is a native Nevadan. She attended the University of Nevada Reno, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1986 with a major in Finance. She graduated Cum Laude from Gonzaga University School of Law, in Spokane, Washington in 1990.

Catherine Cortez Masto was admitted to the State Bar of Nevada in 1990, the U.S. District Court, District of Nevada in 1991 and the U.S. Court of Appeals, for the Ninth Circuit in 1994. She and her husband own homes in both Reno and Las Vegas. Her husband, Paul Masto, is a retired Special Agent in the United States Secret Service.