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SUPREME COURT: Judge's methods reviewed

'Psych evaluations' blocked

CARSON CITY -- Nevada Supreme Court justices expressed disbelief Tuesday that District Judge Jackie Glass blocks public defenders from challenging her decisions on whether defendants are mentally competent to stand trial.

Public defenders Christy Craig and Howard Brooks told justices that the Las Vegas judge does not let them submit "psych evaluations" from their doctors that they say refute doctors she has appointed to decide whether defendants are competent to stand trial.


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  • Glass operates the District Court's twice-a-week competency court.

    Brooks said she refuses even to let defense attorneys read the entire evaluations the court-appointed doctors have prepared. Instead, Glass releases one-page summaries of their findings, he said.

    "We are told we can't have the underlying data even if we file a motion" for a full competency hearing, Brooks said.

    "Judge Glass will not let us talk to the docs," Craig added. "She says that is the way it should be done."

    While justices did not make an immediate decision on whether Glass' approach meets state laws, most raised questions about her methods.

    Justice Jim Hardesty wondered whether any other court in the state handles competency issues the way Glass does. Hardesty said her method was not the one used when he was a Washoe County judge.

    Hardesty read aloud a message that Glass sent to Brooks in which she said she would not consider "their reports period."

    The justice also said he could not read a summary psych evaluation submitted to the court because the doctor's writing was illegible and full of unusual abbreviations.

    Craig contended it was important for the public defenders to be able to contact the doctors in case they could not read or understand the summaries.

    But Deputy Clark County District Attorney James Sweetin said to "insure neutrality" Glass relies on the psych evaluations of court-appointed doctors. Sweetin said prosecutors also cannot see the complete evaluations.

    He said public defenders can file motions for full competency hearings before Glass.

    "But they say they don't take place," Justice Michael Douglas said.

    "They do take place," Sweetin replied, mentioning that he appeared in some of the hearings with Craig.

    Before the competency court was created, criminal defendants remained in jail for months trying to get an evaluation on whether they could stand trial.

    Earlier this year, Glass said the competency court has reduced those waiting times dramatically.

    Gary Peck, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, said earlier this year he was concerned that Glass was sacrificing the constitutional rights of defendants in exchange for court efficiency.

    Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.

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    poop wrote on January 27, 2009 06:16 PM: poop


    Ed Williams wrote on December 05, 2008 03:52 PM: Judge J. Glass demonstrates contempt and no consideration for OJ. Obtaining a degree in Georgia reflects her redneck approach to common sense and fairness. It would be justice if she could be removed as a judge and given the same 9 year sentence for her court house activities.


    J.A. Osmak wrote on October 06, 2008 03:14 PM: I was very sad to see the jury find O.j.& C.J. guilty of all counts First,found guilty by an all white jury. How can an all white jury be one of his peers.I was appaled to watch judge Glass's actions. Was she grand-standing because she was on TV. The way she spoke to Simpsons and Stewarts attorneys was not very nice or professional.Raising her voice and watching her body language showed her prejudice against Simpson and Stewart.
    Today I am listening to the people on the jury- what a sorry group of people.The jury certainly never listened to what was being said by those who were on the stand as witnesses.
    The tapes should never have been allowed into the trial.Who could say they were authentic and had not been doctored,even the F.B.I. could not.
    I just feel there has been a mis-judgement this time.Mr. Stewart for one should not have been prosecuted with Mr.Simpson
    In some cases the Judge has had to take a stand and say,no,no, the jury is wrong.I wonder if Judge Glass will have the fortitude to do the right thing and say no,no, the jury got it wrong.
    I feel that thing that might work for true justice is that the Defence gets an appeal before a court that understands true justice...


    DWB wrote on October 04, 2008 08:11 AM: Has Judge Glass had contack with the Goldmans?It is obvious that this Judge has issues . She looks unkept , she rubs her face and messes with her hair. she yelled at the defense attorneys for nothing and she conducted herself like a elementary school teacher . Why was there a all WHITE jury ????????????????


    DWB wrote on October 04, 2008 08:07 AM: The odds of OJ getting a fair trial was stacked against him from the beginning . It was quite obvious early on that the Judge did not like OJ or his attorneys and talked to them all like they were ignornant children . There should never have been a all WHITE jury sitting on this case . There are those out there that wanted OJ to go to jail for something even if just spitting on the side walk.He did not get a fair trial. His so called friends rated him out and they should do time also .OJ is guilty of not choosing his friends well and it is obvious to anyone wanting to see that.The Goldmans still will not be happy because they have been waiting for years for money . Kim & Fred can now ask God to clear their hearts of the hatred of OJ and move on with their lives and get JOBS. Where is the compassion for OJ's kids? they matter here also.


    iceman wrote on October 04, 2008 05:38 AM: I think that the Judicial Standards Commitee needs to really take a long and hard look at Judge Glass. It seems to me that she needs a re-evaluation and she needs to look at peoples civil rights for a fair trial. The way she had ran the OJ Simpson case is no better than the Judge in the Anna Nicole case they turned it into a circus. I think the way Oj Simpson and his co-defendant was handled was wrong the case was too serious to be held together, Then you have a DA and the COPS who allowed secret tape recordings and they didnt prosecute all of them NO they made deals with all the scumbags. TO be able to get OJ just like the COP said on tape I thinks that Judge Glass needs to be removed from the bench its my opinion that she has some serious issues.


    Joseph Machise wrote on September 24, 2008 11:24 PM: This judge is sick, the way she treats people in the courts is a disgrace.


    Dakota wrote on September 04, 2008 08:46 PM: Isn't it interesting that not one good comment has been registered in defense of the judicial system in this state? It is corrupted, flawed and Nevada likes it that way.

    It starts with the policemen, then the prosecutors, then the judges. Aren't these maggots one in the same?

    Jackie Glass has her thug-punk bailiffs in her courtroom to scream & yell at the public for security reasons. Her security. At times her thugs carry some very powerful rifles to intimidate the public. That's true. Isn't it great?

    The persona she tries to put before the public and judicial committees is one great lie. She is petty, spiteful and a high level tryant. She could use a makeover.

    Jackie Glass represents most judicial parasites in this state. Most judges are nothing more than state-paid prosecutors, and defense attorneys are following close behind.

    No defense! No justice!

    From the flawed justice I've seen in Nevada, I'm not certain Iran & Russia don't look to bad--after all. Can't be worse.

    But, to deny a mentally ill person his right to a proper defense is just the way Nevada operates. Ask Shelly Berkley: "Want Nevada justice--buy it."

    SLEEP WELL, NEVADANS, William Kephardt, another vile prosecutor is seeking a judgeship. In the meantime, why don't Nevadans just turn over the courts to the prosecutors? They rule now!

    Citizens! You've been duped for a decade or longer. Keep Law & Order alive and you'll be in the poor house or prison--visiting your wasted tax dollars.




    undr cvr wrote on September 04, 2008 09:47 AM: Lets look at the politics

    Would Cherry be one of them?


    Mamamia wrote on September 03, 2008 08:22 PM: Oh come on, people! this is just another example of "Nevada Justice" or should it be "Nevada Injustice"! these "judges" think they can bend the law as they see fit and we peasants had better not dare challenge their rulings or else they throw the book at us! It's just another example too of the "good ol' boy system" in Nevada. We gotta get the Feds in on this!


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