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Opinion
Aug. 13, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

CORRECTION: An editorial in the Aug. 13 edition of the Review-Journal incorrectly reported the length of a term in the Nevada Senate. Those elected to the body serve four-year terms.

EDITORIAL: Primary colors

Halverson (above) and Del Vecchio (below)
Turned out by voters




Voters in Tuesday's primary took a harsh view of candidates dogged by questionable character or behavior.

The poster child for scandal was District Court Judge Elizabeth Halverson, who has been on paid leave for most of the year while she faces a slew of charges now pending in front of the state Judicial Discipline Commission.

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    • Judge Halverson took on two challengers and was bloodied by both. The fact that voters were able to remove her from the bench before the discipline panel could take action represents a strike against those who want to take ordinary citizens out of the judicial selection process.

    In Clark County Family Court, Department K, incumbent Nicholas Del Vecchio went down in flames. He faces allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power -- and voters refused to look past them, sending the judge into early retirement.

    In the Republican primary for Assembly District 4, two-term incumbent Francis Allen lost handily. She had recently been arrested for assaulting her husband and had an undistinguished career in the Legislature. Although her spouse refused to move forward with charges, GOP voters in her district decided she was no longer fit to represent them in Carson City.

    In Northern Nevada, Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, a Reno Republican whose incredible political clout has cowed southern politicians for years, survived a spirited challenge from Sharron Angle and will rule the roost for another six four years, before term limits send him to the sidelines.

    Overall, turnout in the election was abysmal and surprises were few and far between.

    Expect the opposite come November.

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    hillobamacain wrote on August 13, 2008 11:37 AM: if judge roy bean were still alive he would be chief justce of the nevada supreme court


    Fausto wrote on August 13, 2008 07:50 AM: " I heard Miley got her Law Degree from some correspondence course somewhere."

    Cal Western is "some correspondence course somewhere"?

    LOL, someone needs to lay off of the drugs.


    Stephen Gianelli wrote on August 13, 2008 07:38 AM: For the very reasons we from outside LV found the Halverson saga so entertaining, establishment forces in Nevada could not allow her to remain: She brought ridicule to the Las Vegas bench, and by extension the State of Nevada, by her behavior on and off the bench.

    She married an ex-prison felon on parole. She has an unpaid seven figure judgment against her. Her house was so filthy it was cited as a health hazard. She weighs 500 pounds. Cookie crumbs and sunflower seeds littered her chambers. She used profanity with and in front of her staff. She slept at work. She threw papers on the floor instead of handing them to staff. She was paranoid. Imperious. Mean. She talked to deliberating juries.

    Did Kathy Hardcastle have it in for the heavyweight jurist? Probably. But it was Halverson who self destructed, and not any conspiracy that brought her down.

    Are there other NV judges who have gotten away with similar behavior? Maybe. But the difference is that they did not make a mockery of Nevada in the National press.

    There is a reason that I have been following this case with jaw dropping amazement since March of 2008, and her name is not Kathy Hardcastle.


    outsideLV wrote on August 13, 2008 06:47 AM: So, let me get this right... Del Vecchio who has been charged with Sexual acts with a minor, and sexual and racial harassment, has not missed a day on the bench and his charges were brought to the attention of the Judicial Discipline Committee over 2 years ago.

    Yet Halverson who's charges pretty much come to nonsense like being a big fat meanie to her embarrassingly uneducated ignorant staff (did you see Jordan and Spoor on CNN.. OMG...) has been suspended for months?

    You Las Vegans are very arse backwards... LOL.. you'd keep a child molester in family court, yet you are quick to suspend the big fatty because she is a threat to the people ????
    HELLOOOOOoooooooooooooooooo...

    This is hysterical. OMG.. Only in Vegas.

    Oh.. btw.. I suggest you go with Landess... I heard Miley got her Law Degree from some correspondence course somewhere. LOL.... Oh wait... she is perfect for you folks from Nevada.

    Dumb, vacant, crooked, and easily bought and sold.

    You go Las Vegans... yeee hawwwww