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JANE ANN MORRISON: Del Vecchio returning to a position he knows well: perennial candidate

Family Court Judge Nicholas Del Vecchio is a goner. The claims made about his behavior on the bench are not just a simple she said-he said. It's nine people describing appalling behavior, which, if true, makes him unelectable in the fall.

Even if you discount the sexual abuse claims of stepdaughter Rebeccah Murray and the claims of her mother, (his ex-wife) Imogene Serrano, there remain seven people who worked at Family Court who are saying the judge essentially said anything that crossed his mind, no matter how inappropriate or offensive.

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  • If you read the entire 38 counts in the charges filed Friday by the Nevada Judicial Discipline Commission, and if it's all true, Del Vecchio is a lewd, crude sexist and racist who apparently felt free to say whatever vulgar thought floated from his penis to his pea brain.

    What kind of judge would tell his bailiff something to the effect that a fellow jurist, Family Court Judge Stefany Miley, "has a fine ass and you wished you could get in there."

    It's one thing to think it. It's another to say it. Del Vecchio is a judge without judgment. Hispanics, blacks, Asians, Jews. There was hardly a minority he didn't slur.

    Perhaps he'll put it all in context when he gives his side. Perhaps he was merely joking when he told one assistant she should be sleeping with him, not her boyfriend.

    Ha. Ha. Ha.

    His staff said the judge felt free to comment on the sexual desirability (and undesirability) of women -- female attorneys, litigants and other courthouse employees. Just call him Mr. Sensitive.

    Even if you discount the 15 out of 38 counts based on his stepdaughter and ex-wife, almost all the rest come from statements from either his former staff members or other employees at Family Court.

    The witnesses include his former court clerks Patti Camarote and Wilma Sawtelle; his former judicial executive assistant Wendy Cox; his former bailiff Richard Tamez, his former law clerk Michael Bognar; and two other court employees, Beata Funk and Meredith Simmons.

    The claims involving sexual abuse of his stepdaughter when she was between 14 and 16 are horrifying; but that occurred before he was a judge, and the discipline commission must consider what he did while a judge.

    Because the statute of limitations has run out on child abuse allegations involving Murray, now 29, no criminal charges will be filed based on those claims.

    But she became his judicial executive assistant in 2002, and he allegedly said the job included sexual services, so those charges are relevant to his judgeship. He allowed her to attend law school during the day, even though Chief District Judge Kathy Hardcastle told him a judge's assistant could not work a flexible schedule.

    Many are asking why he remains on the bench hearing cases.

    Simple: Judges can be removed only by the Judicial Discipline Commission.

    However, litigants, particularly women, might start asking that their cases be removed from his court. What woman, attorney or litigant, is going to want to stand before Del Vecchio looking for a fair decision and wondering if he's weighing whether she's desirable? Too creepy.

    In the 2006 Judging the Judges evaluation, 77 percent of the attorneys said he should be retained. Look for that number to plummet. That retention rating and an inexperienced opponent helped Del Vecchio win the Review-Journal's endorsement.

    Not likely he'll get the newspaper's endorsement this year. His opponents are Ellen Bezian, Cynthia Giuliani and Vincent Ochoa.

    Ochoa is mentioned in one count. Tamez, the ex-bailiff, said Ochoa called Del Vecchio about a juvenile master position.

    The judge refused to take the call and told his bailiff to tell Ochoa that he needed to take Del Vecchio to lunch if he wanted to be considered for the position.

    For this judge, everything was quid pro quo, food or sex.

    After running for seven elected positions, Nicholas Del Vecchio finally wins one in 2000 when he's 43. He rids himself of the description "perennial candidate," puts on the black robe and proceeds to screw it up royally.

    Or so say at least nine witnesses.

    Don't you know Del Vecchio is having a lousy Valentine's Day.

    Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0275.



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    evelina wrote on October 27, 2008 08:54 PM: tell a lie see how fast it will go. i don't believe nothing what they say about delvecchio. i know his family, i work for them for years.you can't touch what god has bless.i know all the sons and daughter and mother, they are some fine people, people loves to lie on other people.they do it all the time.He will be fine, god is with him.


    Denise wrote on September 08, 2008 10:42 PM: I appeared in his court. I felt very degrated as a woman and because I did not have an attorney there, I asked for a contiuance. He denied me that. he then complimented the defendant's attorney and what a great job he'll do in representing him. Very out of line. This is a sex abuse case also. i am seeking new judge.


    UNKNOWN wrote on August 05, 2008 07:13 AM: Del Vecchio is an awesome judge, just becasue he did not rule in your favor or your upset about the way he saw the case evidently you where not the fit parent so do bad mouth him for your wrong doings


    frustrated Father wrote on June 25, 2008 08:34 PM: If you are interested in a really sad desturbing story about my son's 2 year divorce and custody battle with Judge Del Vecchio as his judge, please contact me. This judge has NO BUSINESS on the bench. He has ruined my son, my life and it is effectin my Granddaughter. The judge lets this happen becasue his ex-wife is a beautiful woman. My son has not seen his daughter since 4/23/08. She will not allow it even though he has court orders that say he can. My son takes the police with him to get his daughter because she lied and told the court that he savagely beat her when he dropped his daughter off. I was in the car and saw everything. SHE hit him, bt she lied and filed a TRO on my son. The judge does nothing - he accepts her word EVERY TIME - SHE DOES NOT HAVE TO PROVE ANYTHING. All she has to do is cry and look pretty. My son's lawyer has never seen anything like it. My brother in law who used to work for the DA has never seen anything like this. This has been going on for 2 years. She currently has 4 contempt of court letters against her, but she is not afraid - Del Vecchio will do nothing to her. She's blonda and shes beautiful. Are you the reporter that will make a differance? Are you the lawyer that will listen to FACTS and tell the world how bad this man is running his court and wasting ALL OF OUR MONEY and our LIVES?? I miss my Granddaughter. I have no seen her in 6 months. Please Help US!


    Diana wrote on March 22, 2008 11:20 AM: I feel the same way. I would like my case to be heard by someone without all this going on in their life. Be looked at by a judge that will see what Del Vechhio did to my daughter's life handing her over to her abusive father. You can see some of my dilema on my blog deardianad.blogspot.com


    Anononymous wrote on March 19, 2008 08:37 AM: As someone who is intimately close to the Del Vecchio situation, I can tell you that this reporter got it very right. There even may be things she left out. He's a scumbag, I've seen it first hand.


    removehardcastle wrote on February 22, 2008 08:04 AM: Hardcastle MUST be investigated. She is ineffective as a leader of the court.

    She is the classic example of a woman scorned.

    Do NOT re-elect Kathy Hardcastle.

    She is a sick, vindictive woman who has lost her ability to be an impartial judge.


    Maggie wrote on February 19, 2008 06:19 PM: Every one seems to forget that Del Vecchio did committ criminal acts. He stole time from the county and the state. I recall two police officer's from UNLV were prosecuted for alledgedly stealing time. And what about the unauthorized recordings during his sex acts with Ms Murray.

    What's Hardcastle doing about that!

    This guy defruaded the Public!

    Who's going to investigate Hardcastle?

    Morrison you owe it to the public to print the truth about your girl friend Kathy Hardcastle. What did she do for you, but buy you a few drinks at the Golden Nugget during work hours.


    riverwile wrote on February 19, 2008 09:19 AM: Hey you fat little troll.. yeah you... Morrison... you must feel real stupid about now.

    Your disdain for Halverson has been so obvious to your readers...

    And now... it is clear that Halverson has been set up and is treated far differently than the real criminal judges.

    Halverson was removed, (with your help in destroying her in the media) for basically being mean to her staff while a child molester and sexual preditor has been allowed to try cases.

    You and your croonies are a piece of work.

    Oh, and Morrison, you should try getting back on Weight Watchers.. you have packed on some pounds as of late.


    gracie wrote on February 18, 2008 02:05 PM: re Miguel:

    Miguel.. Morrison never has the facts. She is a two bit second rater columist with no style and is washed up.

    Her facts on Halverson were all inaccurate. Why should she start any real reporting now.

    I like other readers want to know why Morrison did not list Del Vecchio's weight in the headline of her column?

    The way Halverson was treated and Del Vecchio is being treated makes it very clear that Halverson is being targeted.

    What a disgrace.


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