Las Vegas NowClark County Judge Halverson Must Explain Security Breach

Clark County Judge Halverson Must Explain Security Breach

(May 11) -- District Court Judge Elizabeth Halverson was a no show at the Regional Justice Center Friday. She did comply with an order issued Thursday barring her from court until she explains a serious security breach.

Court administrators say Judge Halverson brought two private security guards to the RJC and allowed them to bypass the security checkpoint.

The judge's chambers sat empty Friday. A different judge handled the one case she had on her calendar.

Halverson will not be allowed back into the courthouse until she agrees to meet with her fellow judges to discuss her security concerns and commit to cause no additional disruptions.

Halverson was elected to the bench in November and has faced several issues. One of her bailiffs filed a complaint against her and she recently had all criminal cases stripped from her calendar.

Chief Civil Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez told the I-Team the move to bar Halverson from the courtroom was essential. "As you know, when you come in the security everyone has to go through. And the gentlemen she had assisting her as private bodyguards had not gone through that procedure and we unfortunately found they had weapons. And that is of grave concern to those of us who are on the building."

A spokesperson for Halverson says the judge would have no additional comment Friday. If there is going to be any legal action it will not occur until next week.

(May 10) -- Eyewitness News is following a developing story involving the Clark County judicial system.

Judge Elizabeth Halverson isn't allowed into the Regional Justice Center after she hired private security guards and allowed them to bypass courthouse security. A court order was issued just before 6 p.m. Thursday

Only the Channel 8 I-Team has Judge Halverson's side of the story.

Eyewitness News caught up with Judge Elizabeth Halverson at a ceremony for fellow judges and asked if she felt she was being treated fairly.

District Court Judge Halverson said, "No, and I really don't want to discuss it."

On Wednesday, District Court officials say Halverson allowed two private security guards into her chambers, bypassing regular courthouse security. When an administrator went to speak with her about a personnel matter, the judge refused to meet with him and placed a call to 911 asking Metro to respond.

Metro notified courthouse bailiffs who went to check on her safety and were then met by the two men inside the judge's chambers.

Court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer said, "So, what we have at this point -- or what we had -- was two individuals, unknown if they were armed, unknown about their backgrounds and they basically were walking the back hallways of the judicial areas serving as her private security."

But here's how Halverson described the incident.

"No, I don't think it is fair when people break into, without warrants, into your chambers and try to assault you," Judge Elizabeth Halverson said.

Halverson was elected to the bench in November of last year. Last month, she had all criminal cases stripped from her calendar and a panel of three experienced judges was appointed to oversee her performance.

Halverson says she is being targeted. "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. But there is evidence of their own doing, and that will come out soon," she said.

The chief judge's order says Halverson must stay away from the Regional Justice Center until she agrees to meet with fellow judges to assure them there will be no more disruptive behavior. The chief judge does not have the authority to strip Judge Halverson of her position altogether.

Halverson defended Bill Henderson in last November's election by less than one percent of the vote.

Email your comments to Investigative Reporter Mark Sayre.