In 1972, following his graduation from law school—when he was still known as just Phil—he began clerking for the Honorable William P. Compton of the Eighth Judicial District Court in Clark County. From 1973-1975, he served as a Deputy Public Defender in Clark County. Then, in 1975, he moved on to become the Assistant United States Attorney in Las Vegas. In 1977, he relocated to Reno and tried his hand at private practice with two partners, founding the law firm of Semenza, Murphy and Pro. In 1979, he joined the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, Gaming Division in Carson City providing legal representation to the Nevada Gaming Control Board and Nevada Gaming Commission then chaired by Harry Reid. In 1980, he briefly rejoined the Office of the United States Attorney in Reno pending his return to Las Vegas in October to commence service as Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Nevada. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan nominated him to be a United States District Court Judge for Nevada where he served as Chief Judge from 2002 to 2007. Thereafter, assuming Senior Status in 2012 and retiring from the Court in 2015

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