He attended Reno High School, where he was captain of the football team and student body president, graduating in 1956.
[2][3] He played college football until he was sidelined due to an injury, after which he assisted coach Tom Flores, with whom he remained friends for many years thereafter.
In 1973, he served as legal counsel to Governor Mike O'Callaghan, who appointed Manoukian as a judge of the 1st Judicial District Court in 1974.
[4] Once seated on the court, Manoukian assumed jurisdiction over the estate case of Walter Herrmann, which had previously been presided over by Judge Richard Waters, who had died in office.
Despite being exonerated by the Judicial Commission, the controversy marred his career, with accusations that he used the case to advance his political aspirations.