- Quickdraw McLaw
- 62 Comments
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- RIP Mark Torvinen, Elko’s District Attorney. [Elko Daily]
- Lame-duck Judge Conrad Hafen is making waves by ejecting victims from the courtroom and threatening to have an RJ reporter arrested. [RJ]
- Speaking of rules regarding recording in the courtroom, do any of you use your smart phones to make recordings of hearings?
I would never record anything in a courtroom without express permission on the record
Agreed. I thought this was an egregious question when I read it. In some federal courts they won't even let you bring your phone in the building. In others there's a big sign that says you an't record. But now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever seen that sign at the RJC.
Why not? It's a public hearing most of the time.
Magistrate Judge Johnson had a fake aquarium on his bench with a cell phone in it.
Magistrate Judge Johnston was a douche.
@11:01,
Because SCR 229(2)(b) prohibits it.  "Except as provided by these rules, the use of cameras, cellular phones or other electronic devices to photograph or record courtroom proceedings without the express permission of the judge is prohibited."
I've never understood why this is even an issue. You can get a video of the proceeding for $20 a few days later.
The article states the rules: Newsmedia are allowed to record the proceedings so long as they submit a timely request. The RJ Reporter acknowledges that the RJ did not file a timely request. I think Hafen is a crazy person, and the threats of jailing are laughable. With that being said, David Ferrara's article reads like a petulant child. "They didn't let me do it. They let other people do it. Wah Wah." Hey, take notes like a normal reporter and tell us what happened.
The logical question being, was every press credential checked for timeliness or was the RJ singled out?
David's a good guy, Hafen didn't need to treat him like that. Just serial craziness by an embittered ex justice of the peace. He's lucky they never FOIA requested his e-mails, the rumor is that Hafen liked to talk to the cops directly about their cases.
I was expecting to see "When the attorney for the Review Journal challenged Hafen on his refusal to allow the reporter to use his/her cell phone, the judge said 'What are you going to do, get me fired?'" I didn't see that though.
Geez, Hafen has become even more entertaining than Halverson!
Hafen is seriously disturbing. Exactly how does he see this helping him in the future? And while part of me agrees with 9:04 (it is entertaining) I'd really like it if we stopped making national news with this BS.
21 years practicing in Clark County – nothing shocks me any more. We reap what we sow. More often than not, our judges are not the best and brightest in our legal community. More frequently they are corrupt, incompetent, and/or otherwise ill-suited to the task of judicial decision-making.
What can be even more infuriating is the fact that our judges receive some of the highest salaries and richest benefits/retirement packages in the nation. We elect idiots and rogues to hear our cases and then we reward them handsomely! Nevada taxpayers and voters deserve what they get.
The only way to stay sane is to choose to be entertained by the absurdity of it all.
I slightly disagree with 10:34. I have practiced in CA courts, and have realized that there are some major bozos over there. granted not ever judge in clark county is great, but we do have a good number of decent judges overall. worst case scenario we can vote them out after 6 years. too bad i can't say the samething for some of the idiots at the Nevada federal district court bench (magistrate and trial judges)
The judges are poor everywhere. In an appointed system, you are guaranteed to get mostly politically correct appointments with lots of diversity but short on experience, talent, or judicial temperament. The elected system also promotes mediocrity but you can, at least, vote them out of office like Hafen.
2:11 nailed it.
Confirmed: Boots' bio is off the Eglet website. However, her photo remains in that crazy group shot on the home page.
That's gotta be a tough place to work.
Rise to greatness or perish.
Be named Eglet or perish.
Robert Adams and Art Ham have risen to greatness.
That redhead over there – Danielle – is a hottie. But, her bio is off now.
Basically the guy that adds and removes attorney bios from Eglet's website has great job security.
Cottle, gone. Christiansen, gone. Wall, gone. What is the over-under on Prince?
Don't forget Mainor and the guy that Ford is now covering up.
4:07 is funny! And from what I know, redhead boots (Danielle) left on her own will, for other opportunities. It was a friendly departure from Eglet.
Does Eglet fire people? I figured they all just got tired of the lack of opportunities to grow anything other than the Eglet ego and brand.
I give Prince no more than 3-4 years max. Sooner or later he will challenge her majesty's authority at the castle and as we all know the Queen will banish the Prince.
No way Prince last more than two years. He's probably already working on his exit strategy.
@ 11:24 He's been killing it in trials the last year or so! Of course he's been getting served only the finest cuts of meat to devour down at RJC on the Eglet trial team. Still, he only does trial work and without a doubt he is making more money now than he ever has while getting all the accolades and prestige to boot! That dude is a fucking monster right now that I wouldn't want to go up against in trial. As long as he is bringing in the fat cheese … he's not going anywhere!
I'm no fan of Eglet but, that firm does kick a lot of ass! However they do it, they just win. I primarily practice insurance defense and I know I'm over matched when I'm up against them. I bill what I can, advocate settlement, and leave it up to the client as to how sore they want their ass to hurt. Over 15 years in practice and out of a dozen or so cases vs. Eglet, I can't honestly say that I've had one case that I was fairly confident I could get a defense verdict out of. True, they only take the best referrals to trial , their court influence is substantial but, it should be, taking into account their success. Could they be the same firm in a larger market? Probably not. They are the Big Dogs here in Vegas with a bite to match their bark. Facts are facts!
I can see taking a job at E&P to learn the ropes and then bailing for my own pursuits as a good strategy.
@12:07: yeah, I don't believe you. Your sentence structure, word choice, and capitalization are too close to another poster on here that constantly gobbles Eglet's knob. I suspect you are an Eglet law clerk / paralegal.
I agree with 11:47, Dennis is in the prime of his legal career at the best and most powerful plaintiff's firm in town making piles of cash with the Eglet's! Why would he be making any plans to leave right now? NJA Trial Lawyer of the Year etc., the guy is riding high with his executive backpack making fashion trends for attorneys in trials,Friday fun days down at the Golden Nugget pool with a cold fresh beer in hand surrounded by pool hotties! He's living the dream! Couldn't happen to a better guy and a damn good trial attorney. Bunch of haters on this blog with less aptitude, less balls, and a whole lot less success.
12:28 I suspect you are disgruntled insurance defense counsel that's had your ass handed to you by Eglet. Maybe you should have "gobbled some Eglet knob" and saved your clients some cash?
Court clerk on lunch FYI
Nothing stirs the blog like some Eglet knob!
Brad Myers is still riding the Eglet gravy train albeit as a partner in the 702 firm on the same 4th floor as Eglet & Prince. He gets all the leftovers that Eglet doesn't want to pursue. I'm guessing the five and mid six figure valued cases. He's been "nursing" now for 10 years or so. Good guy, competent PI counsel , just no real trial skills or confidence which is exactly the type of attorney the Eglet's always seem to favor working beneath them. Danielle is making the right decision for herself as she has bigger aspirations than just writing for the Eglet's.
Mike & Brad have a good thing going with 702.
There is no better plaintiff's trial attorney or trial team going right now than Dennis Prince. Proceed with extreme caution and to your own detriment.
Anybody can be beat with the right judge and jury. Strike that. This is Clark County. White flag raised.
It's official. This blog has been hijacked by E&P or someone obsessed with E&P. "They are the Big Dogs here in Vegas with a bite to match their bark?" "There is no better plaintiff's trial attorney or trial team going right now than Dennis Prince. Proceed with extreme caution and to your own detriment?" That sounds exactly like something a real person – and not at all a shitty marketing rep – would say in real life.
And by the way, multiple Eglets are Eglets, not Eglet's.
Why not this blog too? The courts have been hijacked by Eglet.
Hater's gonna hate!
Similarly, multiple haters are haters, not hater's. But I'm sure these are all different people making the same mistake.
hahaha… for the win!
Get with the times. All Boyd 2013s were taught that the plural form of any word ends in 's. You must be a BYU 2013, like the rest of the Boyd 2013 rejects.
Boyd '13 was not or wasn't good in English 401 period purposely left out for additional authenticity
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All Vegas lawyers suck! Rejects who couldn't or can't make it in Calif. or Az.
Worst bunch of drunks, addicts, thieving shit bags, whores with JD's in U.S.!
Oh hi! How did you find our nice local blog? Please report back to your friends in California and Arizona and tell them that we're doing fine, addiction, shit bagging, and whoring notwithstanding.
At least you don't deny it! San Diego sends you warmest regards …
2:00 pm: eat a dick.
Ooooh someone didn't pass the NV bar exam and sounds a little bitter…
Who is the best trial attorney if it isn't Dennis Prince? Robert Eglet? Same team
Did I hear the mic drop?
Yep! Jackpot Justice
Didn't say he wasn't. I said blog is hijacked.
2:28 , I hope you pay more attention in your practice than you do on this blog. Nothing elicits more blog activity than comments or replies about anything Eglet.
Don't believe me? Do your own research and type "Eglet" in the Search box.
Why is it so? Maybe just maybe it's because every practicing attorney in Las Vegas has so much contempt and envy for the Eglets and their massive practice.
No one can argue the relentless and ruthless legal practices that are necessary to be successful nowadays.
The Eglets are just the most fierce and ruthless adversaries to practice law against and everyone hates them and envies them at the same time.
Obviously, that includes you too!
2:47 – thanks, Tracy.
2:28 here. I can assure you I pay more attention to my practice than this blog. Not seeing where you're getting me being envious or hating on such fierce and ruthless adversaries. What I'm saying is that I have noticed an uptick in the past month or so of posts that don't pass the smell test. Hence, hijacked. Maybe I'm wrong, but not many attorneys I know would describe any firm or attorney as "the Big Dogs here in Vegas with a bite to match their bark." That's corny PR team speak.