Happy Good Friday/Passover!

  • Law

  • Congratulations to Joe Hardy, Jr. and Eric Johnson on their appointment as district court judges. [Press Release]
  • Dr. Dipak Desai pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges. [Las Vegas Sun]
  • Attorney Maggie McLetchie and the RJ were successful in their campaign to get the DA’s office to release more documents relating to witness payments. [RJ]
  • In a new advance opinion issued yesterday, the Supreme Court clarified when it is okay to confer with your client during a deposition and still have it be privileged. [Coyote Springs Inv. v. Eighth Judicial Dist. Ct. #64623]
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 3, 2015 3:12 pm

They did a good job with the appointments for Eric and Joe. At least it wasn't "we need the affirmative action appointee." It is the best person for the job regardless of race, gender, creed, etc. So happy Bulla didn't make it or some other nutty quack out there or person that runs every election year and never wins (you know who you are Bruce).

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 4:27 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

A DA for a mostly civil Docket? And how is a Mormon white male party bonanza not about race,gender,creed?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 4:47 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

You mean the Mormon white male party that was previously thrown in our federal court? That said, I liked most of the Mormon federal judges (Hunt, Leavitt, Johnston, etc.), so it wasn't that bad.

On the other hand, Doug Smith sucks. Joke of a judge.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 3, 2015 4:51 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Isn't "Mormon white male" a tad redundant?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 3, 2015 5:54 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Eric isn't a DA nor Mormon. Sorry that your whitey guilt wasn't assuaged. Haters gonna' hate.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 3, 2015 5:58 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

"Whitey" that is racist.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 3, 2015 6:03 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Mary should have been picked of either of these clowns.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 3, 2015 6:27 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

@9:47 Federal Judge Leavitt is Jewish. You must be quite a federal expert.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 3, 2015 6:33 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Watkins is better than the two selected. Way to go in your selections. I was celebrating we were getting rid of Reid, now this.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 3, 2015 6:40 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

@10:54 still a bit of nepotism don't you think ?Mr. Jonson's wife is Susan Jonson Judge Dep 22. Sorry guilt I am Hispanic and no hate here just deep sadness no one seems to think this is just ridiculous?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 3:24 pm

Yes. We have been subjected to the bias of affirmative action for over 45 years. Either it worked splendidly, and it's time to move on, or it failed miserably and it's time to move on. No more prejudicial categories please, just best qualifications and relevant experience. Congratulations to the 2 selected candidates.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 4:42 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

So who in your has been appointed by "prejudicial categories" in Nevada 8:24!
And how were the two selected best qualified?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 6:27 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I have worked with Eric Johnson, and I think he's a smart guy. Joe seems young and probably not seasoned enough. There might have been better candidates out there (or maybe not–I didn't look at the field of interested candidates). But, these two will not be the worst judges in the 8th. Not by a long shot.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 6:31 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Thank you, Sandoval for making a mockery of our judicial system. How many judges are related that on our on the bench. We sound like Alabama.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 3, 2015 6:36 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Bulla was way more qualified than Hardy. At least you stayed loyal to the GOP with your picks.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 3, 2015 6:52 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

@11:27 Thank you Susan Jonson!

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 3, 2015 7:05 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

8:24 got it right. Bad enough that politics plays such a large role in selecting judges. Add minority/gender preferences and it becomes a joke.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 7:14 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

How come it is only the GOP posters who keep talking about minority and gender preferences?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 3, 2015 7:18 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Wolfman Jack has returned… please don't get up….

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 7:53 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

What a joke. There IS "affirmative action". The minority/gender preferences are for white males. Politically-connected white males. The comment posted by 8:12 reveals a deep-seated bias. That somehow a minority candidate CAN'T be as qualified as a white male candidate and AUTOMATICALLY is an affirmative action candidate. What malarchy! Except for William Horne who failed the bar 4 times, the African American candidates were well qualified. I read all the applications: Telia Williams is a Harvard Law School graduate who made Law Review and was top of her class and is a pro tem judge, Karl Armstrong has been practicing for 30 years and has done dozens of trials, and Kevin Speed is a successful public defender with strong public service accomplishments. And yet NONE of these well qualified candidates had a snowball's chance in hell of being appointed, and you know that. Williams is no less qualified than Joe Hardy. and has been practicing about as long. And Armstong is no less qualified than Eric Johnson, AND has more civil experience. It is political. John Watkins was also well qualified and was overlooked. So stop with the madness of assuming just because someone is selected for one of these positions it is because they are the "most" qualified. And stop the racist idiocy of assuming that someone black who gets a job is because of "affirmative action." Maybe they are just, I don't know…qualified. And maybe, just maybe, our system sucks at choosing well qualified people who are other than well-connected, white males?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 7:55 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

You are the joke!

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 3, 2015 8:39 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Both systems are very political and considerations other than merit come into play. Perhaps white males have an advantage in the appointment process. Looking at past elections, females have a definite advantage in the election selection process.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 9:10 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

@12:55 junior high school is over. You can use full sentences now.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 3, 2015 9:18 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

@11:36 not only GOP. When is this blatant we all should be concern!

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 3, 2015 9:36 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I did. How did you pass the bar?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 4, 2015 6:40 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

@12:53 looks like Ms. Williams will have no problem running for election with her fine credentials. BTW, while you use seven syllables versus one syllable (Af-ri-can-A-mer-i-can versus black), wondering what the rest of the entire world applies for its citizens? Afro-Rusky? Afro-Brit? African-Australian? No. And with so many individual countries within the African continent, even they skip the African descriptor and identify with the country they are a citizen of. Wondering why you can't just be American and proud of it?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 5, 2015 4:08 am
Reply to  Anonymous

@ 11:40 in Cuba they use Afro-Cubano. In UK some use black but a lot use Afro-Caribbean,etc… No one is less American if there Irish-American or Italia-American right? Much the same.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 5, 2015 4:14 am
Reply to  Anonymous

@2:36 Which one? Legal or libation?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 5, 2015 5:01 am
Reply to  Anonymous

@11:31 Alabama has 12 district Black Judges. We have none in district court. How does it feel to know were more racist than Alabama?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 5, 2015 5:06 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Actually, you're incorrect. District court has 1 black judge. Timothy Williams. But there never has been more than one at a time, to be fair. And never a black woman.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 5, 2015 5:12 am
Reply to  Anonymous

12:55–Why is what 12:53 saying a joke? Discuss.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 5, 2015 5:58 am
Reply to  Anonymous

@10:12 12:55 won't answer. He is too busy pressing his white hood!

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 5, 2015 6:39 am
Reply to  Anonymous

In an amended complaint filed last week, Attorney David Phillips claims the Nevada State Bar is a “mostly white organization” which has shown its racial bias by “picking on attorneys of race and color.”

Phillips, who is black, also claims the State Bar “has grossly failed to screen and investigate their attorney investigator applicants and workers to ensure that they have no racial bias nor have committed previously improper acts towards personsof a different race” than themselves.

Also named as defendants in the case are assistant State Bar counsel Glenn Machado and Phil Pattee. Pattee, spokesman for the organization, declined to comment Friday on the new allegation, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 6, 2015 11:46 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

My Nevada judicial history needs some work, so maybe somebody who's been around for a while can enlighten me. The state is only 8% African-American, but 1 District Court judge out of 52 (including family court) does mean that African Americans are underrepresented in the judiciary here in Clark County. My question is, how often has there been an African-American running for judge in the past few elections? I honestly don't recall if there were any candidates this last election. Maybe part of the problem is that they don't run for judge as often?

Or the other explanation is just that we're a racist state with a good old white boys' club.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 9, 2015 3:33 am
Reply to  Anonymous

@4:46 If that were the case, then what is the 'scuse for the dearth of Latinos and Asians? But if we are discussing, CLARK COUNTY, African Americans make up 12%. And the other issue is who comes before the court? The large majority in criminal cases are African American. I know this will be a completely foreign concept to you, but the larger community of non-lawyers enjoys seeing a representation of themselves on the bench. It's about caring, not being racist. If you care, blacks have run for office. You can be part of the change. Help support qualified minority candidates for judge.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 4:22 pm

Off topic, but check out the effort to geld the recently revised anti-SLAPP statutory framework, SB444:
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/78th2015/Bills/SB/SB444.pdf

There were ambiguities before in the statute concerning the actual standard to apply when examining the burden on the moving party, but this creates a whole new level with the change to a matter of "public concern." Further, it eliminates the $10,000 penalty, and creates a whole new lengthy process of hearing the motion.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 7:23 pm

Or judges are related, so are Joe and Crescent Hardy related?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 11:32 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Joe Hardy, Jr. is State Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Hardy's son.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 5, 2015 4:17 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Yes sir? Hardesty's boy wonder super Hardy, Jr.! White bread city all the way!

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 5, 2015 3:30 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Joe Hardy………if you can't get elected by the people then get appointed by friends of your family and/or church.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 5, 2015 4:30 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

No to Crescent Hardy, yes to Senator Joe Hardy. Several members of the committee stated during the interview that Hardy's application was the best and the most thorough of all the applicants. Maybe some of you should watch the interviews. Political, absolutely.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 7:24 pm

Our

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 7:27 pm

Cliven Bundy is Michelle Fiore's new bf.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 7:39 pm

What a joke. There IS "affirmative action". The minority/gender preferences are for white males. Politically-connected white males. The comment posted by 8:12 reveals a deep-seated bias. That somehow a minority candidate CAN'T be as qualified as a white male candidate and AUTOMATICALLY is an affirmative action candidate. What malarchy! Except for William Horne who failed the bar 4 times, the African American candidates were well qualified. I read all the applications: Telia Williams is a Harvard Law School graduate who made Law Review and was top of her class and is a pro tem judge, Karl Armstrong has been practicing for 30 years and has done dozens of trials, and Kevin Speed is a successful public defender with strong public service accomplishments. And yet NONE of these well qualified candidates had a snowball's chance in hell of being appointed, and you know that. Williams is no less qualified than Joe Hardy. and has been practicing about as long. And Armstong is no less qualified than Eric Johnson, AND has more civil experience. It is political. John Watkins was also well qualified and was overlooked. So stop with the madness of assuming just because someone is selected for one of these positions it is because they are the "most" qualified. And stop the racist idiocy of assuming that someone black who gets a job is because of "affirmative action." Maybe they are just, I don't know…qualified. And maybe, just maybe, our system sucks at choosing well qualified people who are other than well-connected, white males?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 7:58 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Wolfman Jack wants to know how you like your sweat pants pressed?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 8:15 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I agreew ith 12:39 and would also add David Rivers to the list of well qualified candidates whose name wasn't furthered. He happens to be Native american but that is not a reason to deem him qualified; he is well qualified on the merits of his work and accomplishments. But I do think that white males with connections catch breaks others don't and that this process illustrates that problem. No selection method is perfect but at least in elected judge systems the position is not for life so if someone is horrible they can be terminated in favor of someone better.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 8:22 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Know Bill Horne a long time, and he is very bright. Passing the bar the first time is not indicative of high iq.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 9:14 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

@12:58 trolls not welcomed! You have an opinion or strictly hash tags?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 3, 2015 9:38 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Angry at Wolfman? He is not troll; he is all wolf.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
April 3, 2015 9:38 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

a

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 5, 2015 4:22 am
Reply to  Anonymous

@12:58 Nice to see old folks embracing technology! Are you on The Facebook too?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 5, 2015 4:31 am
Reply to  Anonymous

@1:22 Would failing the third or fourth time be at least considered a sign of mediocre IQ? My bad, Mrs.Horn!

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 5, 2015 4:36 am
Reply to  Anonymous

@12:58 & @2:38 Nice vintage comebacks! How was it back in the days were you guys could wear spurs in the court and women and colored folks knew their place?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 5, 2015 4:49 am
Reply to  Anonymous

@1:15 I agree, David Rivers is a fine litigator and would make a great judge. Hardesty's comment about his age was out of line. He is no spring chicken himself. And age is a stupid reason to disqualify Rivers to serve as a district court judge.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 8:46 pm

I bet Bice is a little butt hurt over the Cayote Springs decision, but the Supremes got it right. Once the bell rings, coaches need to stay on the sidelines.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 3, 2015 8:54 pm
Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 4, 2015 12:23 am

Scisento and Marshall went on record against the crazy bill that would make prelims irellevant. I know why princess dance mom and momma mayor didn't hold the rest accountable. Yes even princess dance mom.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 4, 2015 2:27 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Maybe the JC judges who did not bother think the bill will allow them to work less. Wrong. The logical result of it's passage is the elimination of most of their jobs. Not much reason to put on prelims. Most cases will wave on up. District Court judges should have been there opposing it as well. A bunch of crap cases will all be set for jury trial. They all should have been there screaming.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 4, 2015 12:41 am

Lionel Sawyer & Collins property will be auctioned on 4/9. Nellis Auction has the details. Need anything?

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 4, 2015 2:57 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Lionel Sawyer had some ugly shit

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 4, 2015 6:19 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I was hoping to revamp my cigar room. I'll be sure to be there.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 4, 2015 6:51 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Old West whorehouse chic.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 5, 2015 3:58 am

Hardy and Johnson got appointed but have to run. Both of them could get defeated in an election but if past elections are any barometer, they have the best chance unless something pops up like low reviews. The male Johnson is not his wife and don't know how he will do campaigning. His wife Susan was the consummate campaigner and ran terrific campaigns. The male Johnson is a bit stiff and used to being a big man on campus. He will have a learning curve. Hardy will fit right in.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 5, 2015 5:53 am
Reply to  Anonymous

@8:58 For the sake of Nevada lest hope they loose!

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
April 6, 2015 11:32 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

@10:53 – We haven't even seen how they perform on the bench yet and you're already hoping they'll "loose"? My guess is that they'll both be decent judges, at least better than the bottom 33% of judges that we can't seem to get rid of in election season because they know how to campaign.