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JOHN L. SMITH: Halverson, Del Vecchio cases show open season on court staff is over

If florist shops in the vicinity of the Regional Justice Center are running low on posies these days, it would be understandable.

And if there's not a box of See's candy left in all of Southern Nevada, I think I have a good idea where all the sweets went, at least, if local judges have an ounce of sense.

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  • If the black-robed set is not merely book learned but truly wise, it already would have begun showering staff with goodies. Clerks and assistants would receive gifts for all occasions, and bailiffs would get plentiful pats on the back. Civility and collegiality would reign at the justice center, and the judges would have learned an essential lesson:

    Don't harass the hired help, or you'll have hell to pay.

    It's something rookie District Judge Elizabeth Halverson should have known after spending much of her career inside the courthouse. Instead, she faces 14 charges leveled by the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline in a Jan. 7 complaint. Halverson denies the allegations and continues to fight to return to the bench.

    While it's true several of the charges she faces question her ability to perform her judicial duties, arguably the most damning allegations come from the statement of former bailiff Johnnie Jordan Jr., who swears Halverson humiliated him.

    For example:

    Jordan claims the judge yelled at him, called him names, referred to him and other employees as "bitches," "dumb asses" and worse. And he alleges Halverson called him to report for work before 7 a.m., work through the lunch hour and remain on duty until after 5 p.m. without authorizing overtime.

    Then it gets weirder. Jordan alleges Halverson required him to "spy" on other employees, "heat and serve" her meals, keep her water glass chilled and filled, making him put on and take off her shoes, requiring him to massage her feet, neck and shoulders, ordering him to cover her with a blanket for her naps and so on.

    Setting aside some of allegations of procedural errors and accusations that she fell asleep while on the bench, Jordan's description is pretty damaging.

    She's accused by former judicial executive assistant Ileen Spoor and court clerk Katherine Streuber of harassment and creating a hostile work environment. She's accused of calling her former court recorder, Richard Kangas, a spy working on behalf of Chief Judge Kathy Hardcastle. She's accused of calling former law clerk Lisa Carroll a "faux Jew."

    Although Halverson faces other hurdles, I suspect the insurmountable obstacles in her path back to District Court will be found in the form of all the former employees she's accused of treating so shabbily. Who would want to work in the courtroom of such a judge?

    Don't harass the hired help, or you'll have hell to pay.

    It's a lesson that might have saved Family Court Judge Nicholas Del Vecchio from himself.

    It might not be much solace to Halverson, but most of the allegations she faces are forgettable compared to the 38 misconduct accusations filed Feb. 8 by the Judicial Discipline Commission against Del Vecchio. If there were such a thing as a sexual harassment RICO, Del Vecchio would be accused of it.

    Beyond the most serious allegation, that he once forced the daughter of his ex-wife to perform oral sex, most of the charges Del Vecchio faces arise from complaints made by former judicial assistants, clerks and bailiffs. The remarks are raunchy and inappropriate, and were supposedly spoken by a person we pay a six-figure annual salary to sit in judgment of others in sensitive cases at Family Court.

    From encouraging judicial assistant Wendy Cox to dress "seductively" and go to lunch with attorneys who might contribute to his campaign, to calling bailiff Richard Tamez "my lazy Mexican," Del Vecchio's alleged abuse of the hired help figures to haunt him for however long he remains on the district court bench.

    There probably was a time lowly clerks, secretaries and bailiffs had to put up with obnoxious bosses in black robes.

    That time has passed.

    Perhaps one day soon you'll hear about other active judges who abuse their courthouse subordinates.

    The day has changed, your honors. Don't say you weren't warned.

    If I were you, I'd make with the flowers and candy while you still can.

    John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295.



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    Current Word Count:

    Judge Mark Denton Is Unethical wrote on October 01, 2008 11:27 PM: The below happened in a close friend of mine's case.

    Judge Mark Denton
    ---Instead of issuing the Defaults against some of the Defendants, as he was mandated by Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure 55, Judge Denton, 2 months into the case, recuses himself from the case, saying that he can no longer preside over this case because his brother-in-law is a Deputy District Attorney. Why Judge Denton did not state that from day one is a mystery. One can conclude that he like many other Judges and Courts discriminate against Pro Se Plaintiffs. See Court Task Force Report. He also violated numerous Canon Codes of Judicial Conduct.
    ---Failed to rule on several of Plaintiff’s motions, including the Request for Defaults against some of the Defendants.
    ---Violated Plaintiff’s 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause Act, right to a fair trial and due process.
    ---Violated 42 USC 1981(a)-Statement of equal rights, 42 USC 1983.
    ---Committed Treason

    The Nevada Judicial Commission looked the other way and did absolutely nothing when they were informed of this.

    This state agency is just like both the State Medical Board and Nevada Financial Institution Division, in that despite the fact that they are to look out for the best interest and protect the public, they do absolutely nothing.


    Sally Loehrer should also be de-benched wrote on October 01, 2008 11:21 PM: Judge Sally Loehrer
    ---Instead of issuing the Defaults against some of the Defendants, as he was mandated by Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure 55, Judge Loehrer, who incidentally and admittedly showed up on June 10, 2008, unprepared, and claiming to have not read the case, made judgments in favor of some of the Defendants. Judge Loehrer rescheduled the case for June 17, 2008. Again, instead of issuing the mandated Default in favor of Plaintiff, she dismissed his case. She also violated numerous Canon Codes of Judicial Conduct.
    ---Judge Loehrer also told Plaintiff to submit a request, regarding his parole and provisions, and as soon as he does she will sign it. To date, Judge Loehrer has yet to sign it. She committed perjury.
    ---Judge Loehrer, while immediately ruling on the attorney(s) represented Defendants motions, failed to rule on all of Plaintiff’s motions, including but not limited to the Default (Against Nevada Parole and Probation and Nevada Attorney General) (filed on May 8, 2008), Motion To Transfer Venue Out-Of-State (filed on April 30, 2008), Plaintiff’s Motion To Void The Granting Of Defendants Motion To Dismiss Judgment (filed on April 29, 2008), Plaintiff’s Additional Motion For Sanctions Against Attorney (filed on April 28, 2008), Plaintiff’s Motion To Be Exonerated Regarding His 2000 Case 00-C-166673-C (filed on April 21, 2008), Plaintiff’s Petition For Review In Matter Against Defendants(filed on April 17, 2008), Plaintiff’s Motion For Sanctions Against Lawyer (filed on April 10, 2008), Plaintiff’s Motion To Strike Defendant’s Clark County Public Defender’s Motion To Dismiss, Pursuant To NRCP Rule 8(d) (filed on March 28, 2008), Plaintiff’s Motion To Deny Defendants Defendants Reply Dated March 13, 2008,


    onewhoknows wrote on March 01, 2008 11:21 AM: RE: Check the facts

    You are highly naieve. The ticket fixing and jury tampering allegations against Spoor were never investigated.

    That is why Chuck Short went with baliffs and a video guy to try and get the folder of evidence back the day it was discovered,

    They wanted to destroy it. But guess what, they didn't and the emails, names, and facts are all there.

    Geogre Knapp showed some of the emails on his newscast but was quikcly reprimanded and told to stop. Which he did.

    If Spoor were really investigated, then Supreme Court Judge Cherry would be responding to why he apporved this practice in his office? Because it did in fact occur. There are documents supporting this.

    So, wake up folks.. of course they are going to say it was investigated. Then not investigate.. they can't to many bigger people would have to be accountable.

    Best to sweep it under the carpet.


    endrun wrote on February 26, 2008 05:17 PM: When cherrys start falling it will not be to the credit of anyone from the RJ or local media (although they will cover it after the fact)

    For some reason local media is scared to step on any toes.

    The credit will come from the people of nevada who decided they have had it with corrupt public officials in Nevada...AND the feds working together.

    On going public corruption investigations many are involved in are lengthy and precise. When cherrys fall with the rest of the fruit things must be bullet proof.


    Ram Bam wrote on February 26, 2008 05:01 PM: So why doesn't Alan Maimon investigate Justice Michael Cherry? I mean, Maimon writes about one article every 4 or 5 months. He certainly has the time. Some people keep reiterating that Cherry got free Super Bowl tickets, and that his JEA was fixing tickets and excusing people from jury duty. Why won't Maimon investigate amd write about Cherry? Do they have some connection that compels Maimon to give him a pass?


    undr cvr wrote on February 26, 2008 04:38 PM: check the facts,

    Great sense of humor... obviously the same as many of us.

    Anyone who has been connecting the dots knows that George Knapp is more afraid of rocking any significant boats than the RJ.


    sealed sealed sealed wrote on February 26, 2008 04:21 PM: Calie,
    2:00-cv-00115-PMP-LRL

    12/14/2005 160 JURY NOTES (SEALED). (MAJ, ) (Entered: 12/18/2005)
    12/14/2005 161 JURY NOTES (SEALED). (MAJ, ) (Entered: 12/18/2005)
    12/14/2005 162 JURY NOTES (SEALED). 12/15/2005 156 EXHIBIT LIST by Defendants Nevada, State Of, Chuck Short, Rick Short, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity, Christina Chandler, Clark County Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark, County Of, Bill Ellis, Jerry Keller, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Rick Loop, Nevada Equal Rights Commission, Nevada Service Employee's Union. (MAJ, ) (Entered: 12/18/2005)
    12/15/2005 157 EXHIBIT LIST by Plaintiff Carol Morsovillo. (MAJ, ) (Entered: 12/18/2005)
    12/15/2005 158 JURY NOTES (SEALED). (MAJ, ) (Entered: 12/18/2005)
    12/15/2005 159 JURY NOTES (SEALED). (MAJ, ) (Entered: 12/18/2005)


    undr cvr wrote on February 26, 2008 04:13 PM: allconnected,



    'Spoor was not investigated because then we would have to bring Michael Cherry in the loop. After all, this went on in his office and letter head for 8 years (according to Spoor).'



    He has been trying to contain the public defender problem as well by at first trying to keep information from the public and more recently directing a smokescreen that the State really cares about justice for indigents.



    Nevertheless, keep connecting the dots and the pressure on everyone.



    Just because a couple of justices have problems (for what they are worth) this is only the beginning, there are bigger fish to fry


    check the facts wrote on February 26, 2008 02:19 PM: Lizzie, IF you are going to lie, check your facts. Everything was investigated. Even George Knapp said so and he gets his info from the aliens at Area 51


    Calie wrote on February 26, 2008 01:38 PM: Mr. Smith and readers I made an error in reporting the Federal Case Number
    related to my previous comment. The correct number is CV-S-00-0115.

    You probably need to hurry and get your soon to be sold out copy, before
    Hardcastle calls her buddies at the Federal Court and has it sealed. Better yet, you can now get Federal Court Case Transcripts on line.

    Yeah, it is all tied together. And just like District Court they seal cases for unnecessary reasons.

    Only to hide the truth.


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