NCVLI’s Legal Advocacy Award recognizes crime victims’ rights attorneys who have dedicated and committed their time to representing victims of crime in the criminal justice system.

About Heidi Nestel

Heidi Nestel currently serves as Executive Director and Staff Attorney for the Utah Crime Victims Legal Clinic, providing free legal representation to victims of crimes as they go through the criminal justice system. Previously, Ms. Nestel served as a prosecutor for the Davis County Attorney’s Office as well as the Victim Service Director for that Office. In her eight years working for Davis County, she specialized in prosecuting violent crimes against women including domestic violence assault, violation of protective orders, and rape and sexual assaults. Ms. Nestel also prosecuted in the juvenile court system and found making a difference for both victims of juvenile crime and the delinquents themselves very rewarding. Ms. Nestel received an Honors BA, summa cum laude, in 1991, from the University of Utah in Political Science. In 1991, Ms. Nestel received a Harry S. Truman Scholarship based on her dedication to working with juveniles and minor victims in the public sector. Ms. Nestel went on to pursue an M.A. and also received her JD from the University of Utah. During and after law school, Ms. Nestel worked for the Office of the Guardian ad Litem, representing abused and neglected children in court. Through this experience, Ms. Nestel was trained on the dynamics of violence and became dedicated to helping vulnerable victims of crime. Ms. Nestel has a passion and commitment to working with victims of crime and is dedicated to helping victims have a meaningful voice in the criminal justice system.

About the NCVLI Legal Advocacy Award

NCVLI’s Legal Advocacy Award recognizes crime victims’ rights attorneys who have dedicated and committed their time to representing victims of crime in the criminal justice system.