Las Vegas NowHearing for Judge Halverson Wraps Up

Hearing for Judge Halverson Wraps Up

After seven days of testimony, the disciplinary hearings involving Judge Elizabeth Halverson have concluded. On Friday, Judge Halverson finally was able to present her defense.

She called local attorneys and even a former District Court Judge who all testified that Halverson did a good job on the bench. And there has been some controversy over witnesses on the part of Judge Halverson.

She says she delivered eight subpoenas to judges and others at the Clark County courthouse, but they did not show up. That drew a courthouse attorney to the hearings who says Halverson did not give a timely notice.

"I heard what Judge Halverson stated in front of you and all I can tell you is that is complete fabrication and lies. As you know we met over two weeks ago and she was supposed to coordinate with those witnesses, she never did. She never spoke to any of them as you put on the record that she was supposed to," said Court Administration Attorney Jillian Prieto.

You can see Judge Halverson shaking her head. The judge says she left a detailed voicemail yesterday, once it became clear exactly when the witnesses would be needed.

Another main witness was a familiar face in local legal circles. Former District Court Judge Don Chairez says he and Halverson went to law school together and he called her and recruited her to come to Las Vegas to be his law clerk when was first elected to the bench.

Chairez says Halverson was an excellent lawyer who worked to raise standards of legal work in the community.

Judge Halverson and her attorney are trying to show that there was a conspiracy to get her out of office and that her behavior on the bench was normal and consistent with the practices of other judges.

Despite the end of the hearings, we're still some time away from a decision. Once the final record of the hearing is delivered to the attorneys on both sides, they will then have 10 days to submit what is effectively a written closing argument.

The commissioners will likely then hold a phone conference to decide this case and will issue a written ruling. Yesterday, three of the 14 counts were dismissed.