Las Vegas NowThe Strange Saga of Judge Halverson

The Strange Saga of Judge Halverson

The Judge Halverson saga has been going on for more than a year. Most people did not know much about her until she was suddenly barred from the Regional Justice Center in May of last year.

Those in Clark County legal circles say they have never seen anything quite like this. But Halverson has been very proactive in defending all of her actions, saying she has been attacked by a judicial system that did not welcome the addition of an outsider to its ranks.

It was May 10, 2007 when Judge Elizabeth Halverson was locked out of the RJC. At the time, she said she did not feel like she was being treated fairly, "I am hoping for people to come to their senses and to stop their vendetta because there is no evidence of any of the things they are taking about."

Then a videotape then came to light showing court administrators going to the judge's chambers to retrieve the belongings of a terminated employee. The judge called 911, "I have a former employee and a court administrator trespassing into my office."

In her first TV interview, Judge Halverson denied allegations she verbally abused her staff but did admit to disparaging her husband, "I did call my husband an idiot in front of my staff, yes I did."

But in July of 2007, the Nevada Judicial Discipline Commission filed a 14 count complaint against the judge and barred her from office. Just last month, a hearing took place on that complaint, including testimony from her former bailiff the judge made give her foot rubs.

"If you guys allow her to be in office after all of this, what does it say about all of you? I was up here robbed of my rights -- my dignity. How would you feel if it happened to you? How would you feel?" said former bailiff Johnnie Jordan.

Judge Halverson will not be returning to the bench next year. She did not get enough votes in the primary election to move to November's general election.

But we still do not have a final decision from the Judicial Discipline Commission. If the commission permanently bars her from office, she will never be able to be a judge in Nevada again.

Email your comments to Reporter Mark Sayre