Crime, Law Professors, Law Schools

Law Professor Left In Critical Condition After Brutal Attack

This law professor was left bruised, bloodied, and barely breathing.

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police crime tapeOn Friday afternoon, a law professor went for an afternoon jog in a park near her home, only to become the victim of a savage beating that left her bruised, bloodied, and barely breathing.

Professor Leslie Griffin, who teaches constitutional law at the University of Nevada Las Vegas William S. Boyd School of Law, sustained traumatic injuries as a result of the attack, suffering two brain bleeds. At last check, she was in critical condition.

According to the Henderson Police Department, Professor Griffin was attacked by Michael Mattingly, a 23-year-old man who was out of jail on active supervised release for a domestic battery incident. Witnesses say Mattingly kicked Professor Griffin, then “lunged at her and grabbed her and then lifted her up and threw her down” before walking away and yelling, “She’s dying.” Police report that Mattingly then attempted to carjack a passerby who pulled over to help Professor Griffin. A good samaritan caught up to Mattingly and convinced him to return to the scene of the crime, where he claimed that Professor Griffin fell and denied throwing her to the ground or kicking her.

Here’s a statement from UNLV Law on Professor Griffin’s attack:

Professor Leslie Griffin

Professor Leslie Griffin

Leslie Griffin, the William S. Boyd Professor of Law, is a treasured and admired member of the law school community. All of her friends and colleagues – students, faculty, and staff – are shocked and saddened by this senseless attack, and we are here to support Leslie and her family. All of us at the law school and at UNLV are thinking of Leslie and her family in this difficult time.

Mattingly has been charged with battery, attempted robbery, and violation of probation. His bail has been set at $150,000, and he was expected to face a judge yesterday.

We here at Above the Law would like wish Professor Griffin a speedy recovery, and will continue to keep her in our thoughts. We hope her attacker is swiftly brought to justice.

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UNLV law professor in critical condition after brutal attack in Henderson [KSNV 3 News]
UNLV law professor hospitalized after attack in Henderson [Las Vegas Review-Journal]
Witness describes attack on UNLV law professor [KTNV 13 Action News]

Staci Zaretsky is an editor at Above the Law. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments. Follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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