From January 1996 to February 1997, Dorsey was an intern for the firm Totaro & Shanahan and participated to the California Pro Bono Project.[2]
She joined the Las Vegas law firm of Kemp, Jones & Coulthard LLP upon graduation from law school and became a partner in that firm in 2004, serving until 2013. She practiced before both state and federal courts and handled a wide variety of matters including appeals, class actions, and complex commercial litigation.[3][4]
Federal judicial service
On September 19, 2012, Barack Obama nominated Dorsey to serve as a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, to the seat vacated by Judge Larry R. Hicks, who assumed senior status on December 13, 2012.[3] On January 2, 2013, her nomination was returned to the President, due to the sine die adjournment of the Senate. On January 3, 2013, she was re-nominated to the same office. Her nomination was reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 16, 2013, by a 10–8 vote.[5] Her nomination was confirmed on July 9, 2013 by a 54–41 vote.[6] She received her commission on the same day.[4]
Notable rulings
In February 2019, she ruled in favor of Brock Lesnar against Mark Hunt after Lesnar won a 2017 fight but failed to pass the drug test.[7][8]
In March 2019, she ruled in favor of Universal Music Group and its singer John Newman against the singer Alisa Apps, arguing that generic words and short phrases cannot be copyrighted.[9]
In April 2019, she sentenced a man who possessed 47,000 files of child pornography to nine years in prison.[10]
