The Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline issued its decision on Judge Steven Jones, censuring him and then, to show they really mean business, suspending him WITHOUT pay for three whole months. The Commission’s reason for the light sentence: his lack of prior disciplinary record and his otherwise exemplary service as a judge for over 20 years. The public, subjected to the long drawn-out Jones drama and forced to pay his salary while he was suspended WITH pay is outraged and upset at what they see as a crooked, broken system (if you believe the commenters). The RJ reports that Jones is not expected to return to the bench unless he is cleared of federal charges related to alleged investment fraud. Which means another eight months of effective paid vacation. Meanwhile, no word yet of the coroner’s investigation into the death of Lisa Willardson. [RJ; Las Vegas Sun]
Attorney Barry Levinson pleaded guilty to federal charges related to his involvement in the HOA scandal as part of a plea deal to resolve all of his federal criminal charges (including recent charges for stealing money from clients). As part of the deal, Levinson agreed to disbarment (a grateful public thanks the AUSA that included that as part of the deal). Sentencing is May 6 and prosecutors will be seeking at least two years of prison time which will run concurrently with any time he is sentenced to related to the state theft charges. [RJ]
The Nevada Supreme Court put a controversial new sex offender law on hold while it sorts out the constitutionality of it. [RJ]
To quote one of our commenters, “it was a dump, but it was our dump” (which we traded in for something soon to be just as dumpy)–the old Clark County Courthouse is finally being demolished. [RJ]
Good point, combined with Jones withdrawing from the race.
Guest
Anonymous
February 4, 2014 7:13 pm
"otherwise exemplary service as a judge for over 20 years"
In what universe?
Guest
Anonymous
February 4, 2014 7:50 pm
I don't get it. The ethics and discipline arm is teaching us that dating a judge and appearing as an adversary in front of him coupled with federal charges in an investment scheme don't make you disbarred. However, federal crimes put away Christopher Reade, Barry Levinson, Randy Goldberg, etc. do cause problems with the bar. 3 months of suspension, my teenagers would be grateful for that punishment sometimes!
Levinson = epic fail
Yep, because Jones never did a single thing wrong in 20 years, then turned to crime. A$$hole.
What a farce that decision is. Does Jones have some friends on the Commission?
Commission threw Jimmerson a bone.
Good point, combined with Jones withdrawing from the race.
"otherwise exemplary service as a judge for over 20 years"
In what universe?
I don't get it. The ethics and discipline arm is teaching us that dating a judge and appearing as an adversary in front of him coupled with federal charges in an investment scheme don't make you disbarred. However, federal crimes put away Christopher Reade, Barry Levinson, Randy Goldberg, etc. do cause problems with the bar. 3 months of suspension, my teenagers would be grateful for that punishment sometimes!
Your teenagers are lawyers? Weird…
Judge Jones, JJJ and Junior have better caps and hair plugs than Reade.