Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones faces disciplinary hearing where “disbarment is on the table” according to bar counsel Daniel Hooge. [8NewsNow]
Sheriff: legalization of marijuana in Nevada did “nothing” to halt black market. [RJ]
Woman wants to withdraw guilty plea in death of Henderson man found decapitated. [RJ]
Nevada AG shares what immigrants should know when stopped by police. [RJ]
LV Realtor members ask AG to investigate organization’s alleged election interference. [Nevada Current]
Nevada inmates denied medical care, says memo from warden. [Nevada Current]
Other than disbarment what’s going to be on your Thanksgiving table this week? Are you going the traditional turkey, stuffing, pie route or doing something different? What’s the best side for your Thanksgiving feast?
There are some valid criticisms of OBC, but if you look at the actual punishments doled out right now, they are far more proportional than during the Hunterton era or even the early Hooge era. I think the guy is trying his best to balance what is fair. I do think he is limited by his inexperience in private/civil practice. I do think his office sometimes makes mistakes and bad judgment calls, but these are very much the exception and not the rule. He is trending in the right direction, albeit imperfectly. And no, I am not Hooge, nor do I personally know him.
This is a failure of the State Bar. It should not hire someone with limited experience – and especially someone who repeatedly makes basic mistakes and bad judgment calls. Our bar dues are high enough that the Bar should hire someone who is experienced, thoughtful, and respected, even if that means sending fewer bar employees to bar conventions in exotic locations.
Agreed. The last annual BoG report I looked at said they have a $6M surplus. Why isn’t that going to hiring someone with competence and vision instead of a couple of inquisitors from the dirt counties who’ve never worked in private practice? And the convention just needs to end. Present some CLEs on zoom and stop wasting money.
Absolutely is true. It has happened to at least two attorneys I know. Yes, you can beat the charges, but you will pay Rob Bare or one of his peers to defend you and they ain’t cheap. Saying if you did nothing wrong, the investigation will end is completely false. If you’re at a big firm with resources or if you’re politically connected, you’re probably fine. If Hooge gets a bee in his bonnet for you, they will pursue you till the end of time.
This will be a minimum of a suspension; however I think it ends up being a stayed suspension.
Guest
Anonymous
November 25, 2024 9:09 am
So now the religious zealots at OBC get to target the opposing political party with disbarment proceedings? I believe I recall when the bar started their investigation, there was not an actual complaint filed. Hooge & Co just decided that they were going to move forward on their own initiative. Coincidentally, Jones happens to be one of the better known members of the local democratic party. And wasn’t there something about the text messages having nothing to do with the vote? Or the people he texted testified about what was said so the substance of the texts wasn’t lost? I dunno. This is just some third world shit here. OBC is so out of control. The supreme court needs to do something to put an end to this.
ehhhhhhh, Jones is not one of the good guys, imo. This is also not his first time deleting evidence. Not saying there aren’t worse, but this deserves discipline.
He intentionally deleted evidence according to the Magistrate’s Order. No the OBC did not just invent this issue out of thin air; there is a court order that is really damning. I am no fan of the OBC but they are not going to skip on something where a federal magistrate does their work for them and says there is sanctionable conduct.
It is kind of embarrassing that the Feds have to do the work for OBC or the NSC to even act on some of the blatant violations that occur in this cesspool.
The feds? A pathetic magistrate? Any GC out there ever hire Jackson Lewis? Big time bills little result. Maybe she thinks that doing the GOP’s bidding will help get her an actual appointment, keep staying in front of the facts Youchah. Bad practitioner bad magistrate -= perfect for Trump.
Deleted evidence of what? I’ve asked this before what is the adverse inference? That he convinced all the other commissioners to vote against Rhodes? Tick is a lawyer. Gibson is a lawyer. They have no texts. Unless there is money changing hands give me a break.
I read the Magistrate’s order and maybe I am missing it but I did not think the Magistrate’s order found that Jones deleted texts in his capacity as counsel for anyone. Rather, it reads to me like because he was a lawyer, he would know, individually, to maintain texts. So if OBC is going after him with disbarment on the table, are they not doing so based on actions taken in his capacity as an individual? Does that not concern others? I am not aware of any ethics law that governs how we act in our non-lawyer roles. I am very worried about the slippery slope of OBC and this case.
OBC went after an attorney who got into a spat with their neighbors over delivered packages recently. My understanding is that anything you do anywhere that OBC thinks reflects on your trustworthiness is on the table. To be fair, you can be disbarred for serious crimes regardless of whether one is acting as an attorney. So it’s not the slippery slope that it may seem.
3:30 here. A conviction absolutely reflects on your ability to practice law and is fair game. In the neighborhood dispute case, that attorney was convicted of a crime. But Jones has not been convicted much less charged with any crime.
The OBC absolutely can (and will) come after you for “non-lawyer” activities, because anything that negatively reflects on your ability to practice law is fair game.
E.g., you can be disciplined for criminal convictions unrelated to practicing law (DUI, theft, sexual assault, etc.)
OBC can and will come after you for non-lawyer activities that have nothing to do with your ability to practice law. It is a slippery slope and until you or someone you know are facing a discipline panel, you have no idea how far down that slippery slope we already are.
They should all be disbarred for voting for development for The Rich and Privileged ‘three and a half miles from the Red Rock Visitors Center. Clark County approved the development in October 2023.’ Add County Counsel to the list for advising them to betray the best interests of the community.
There’s another, more recent one, than the 2022 one??
Guest
Anonymous
November 25, 2024 1:08 pm
“legalization of marijuana in Nevada did “nothing” to halt black market.”
Why is anyone surprised? The initial impetus was that by decriminalizing possession, the prices would be so low as to drive out illegal sales. By the time the politicians and bureaucrats got done with it, brick and mortar costs, huge licensing fees and taxes, I suspect it is cheaper to buy from an unlicensed (illegal) marijuana dealer on a street corner.
Best yet, new “black market” gets access to the same products. Tinctures, edibles and vapes.
Guest
Anonymous
November 25, 2024 2:17 pm
What date is the O/U on when Judge Israel is going get around to ruling on the Motion to Intervene in the Mormon Temple lawsuit? Put me down for January 10, which will require all other dates to be reset.
Someone tell Todd Bice’s associate to get back to work. There’s no need to post on the blog every other day that you have a pending motion. Just like the rest of us with cases in front of Israel, you can wait for your decisions.
Guest
Anonymous
November 25, 2024 4:06 pm
It’s the OBC and then become defendants counsel. The worse the system the more they get in private practice. No incentive to do right absent morals.
Guest
Anonymous
November 25, 2024 4:25 pm
Just read the Complaint filed by the OBC against Sandy Van and the responsive pleading filed by Van’s counsel. The stereotype of small firms and solos getting in trouble with the bar remains true.
I really, really dislike OBC, but I would not be advocating for Sandy Van. I’ve known her for 10+ years and I’m honestly shocked it has taken this long for OBC to catch up with her. There was a recent published decision on flat fees that came out and I have the same opinion of that attorney. That’s the most frustrating part of the whole thing. Go to lunch with a group of attorneys and we all know who’s unethical and who’s definitely screwing their clients, but those are the same people who go years and years, doing immeasurable damage to clients and the community who rarely if ever get held accountable. Maybe if OBC had any practical experience whatsoever, but they don’t. Just a couple of government workers milking that taxpayer teat.
Whether or not SV is deserving of sympathy is a totally independent question of whether or not OBC engaged in prosecutorial misconduct. I perused the filings, and there is an allegation that somehow 2,200 confidential pages from the investigation ended up in 16.1 disclosures in a totally unrelated PI case. If true, that is a serious violation of SCR 121 by OBC.
Holy crap! I just read the first half of her answering brief. OBC is out of control. Maybe next BoG election people should stop voting for more of the same and start voting in some new members.
to be fair, disbarment is always “on the table” for anything that goes to State Bar under the Hooge era.
No doubt! Win a highly contested case, get a bar complaint from opposing counsel and face $50k to keep your license. Nice little system.
As if this has ever happened. If you did nothing wrong, the investigation will end with little to no cost to yourself. Stop lying about OBC
Found the bootlicker
That’s definitely Hooge himself.
There are some valid criticisms of OBC, but if you look at the actual punishments doled out right now, they are far more proportional than during the Hunterton era or even the early Hooge era. I think the guy is trying his best to balance what is fair. I do think he is limited by his inexperience in private/civil practice. I do think his office sometimes makes mistakes and bad judgment calls, but these are very much the exception and not the rule. He is trending in the right direction, albeit imperfectly. And no, I am not Hooge, nor do I personally know him.
This is a failure of the State Bar. It should not hire someone with limited experience – and especially someone who repeatedly makes basic mistakes and bad judgment calls. Our bar dues are high enough that the Bar should hire someone who is experienced, thoughtful, and respected, even if that means sending fewer bar employees to bar conventions in exotic locations.
Agreed. The last annual BoG report I looked at said they have a $6M surplus. Why isn’t that going to hiring someone with competence and vision instead of a couple of inquisitors from the dirt counties who’ve never worked in private practice? And the convention just needs to end. Present some CLEs on zoom and stop wasting money.
I call BS. That office is so aggressive. They have no interest in advancing the profession. It is all disbarments and suspensions all the time.
Absolutely is true. It has happened to at least two attorneys I know. Yes, you can beat the charges, but you will pay Rob Bare or one of his peers to defend you and they ain’t cheap. Saying if you did nothing wrong, the investigation will end is completely false. If you’re at a big firm with resources or if you’re politically connected, you’re probably fine. If Hooge gets a bee in his bonnet for you, they will pursue you till the end of time.
Thank you OBC
Re: OBC
my smart ass brain says:
Remember that any comment that isn’t a positive comment is a cry for help.
You heard it here first, public reprimand, Jones pays $2000 in costs and promises to take ethics classes and learn about e-discovery.
This will be a minimum of a suspension; however I think it ends up being a stayed suspension.
So now the religious zealots at OBC get to target the opposing political party with disbarment proceedings? I believe I recall when the bar started their investigation, there was not an actual complaint filed. Hooge & Co just decided that they were going to move forward on their own initiative. Coincidentally, Jones happens to be one of the better known members of the local democratic party. And wasn’t there something about the text messages having nothing to do with the vote? Or the people he texted testified about what was said so the substance of the texts wasn’t lost? I dunno. This is just some third world shit here. OBC is so out of control. The supreme court needs to do something to put an end to this.
ehhhhhhh, Jones is not one of the good guys, imo. This is also not his first time deleting evidence. Not saying there aren’t worse, but this deserves discipline.
He intentionally deleted evidence according to the Magistrate’s Order. No the OBC did not just invent this issue out of thin air; there is a court order that is really damning. I am no fan of the OBC but they are not going to skip on something where a federal magistrate does their work for them and says there is sanctionable conduct.
It is kind of embarrassing that the Feds have to do the work for OBC or the NSC to even act on some of the blatant violations that occur in this cesspool.
The feds? A pathetic magistrate? Any GC out there ever hire Jackson Lewis? Big time bills little result. Maybe she thinks that doing the GOP’s bidding will help get her an actual appointment, keep staying in front of the facts Youchah. Bad practitioner bad magistrate -= perfect for Trump.
Deleted evidence of what? I’ve asked this before what is the adverse inference? That he convinced all the other commissioners to vote against Rhodes? Tick is a lawyer. Gibson is a lawyer. They have no texts. Unless there is money changing hands give me a break.
I read the Magistrate’s order and maybe I am missing it but I did not think the Magistrate’s order found that Jones deleted texts in his capacity as counsel for anyone. Rather, it reads to me like because he was a lawyer, he would know, individually, to maintain texts. So if OBC is going after him with disbarment on the table, are they not doing so based on actions taken in his capacity as an individual? Does that not concern others? I am not aware of any ethics law that governs how we act in our non-lawyer roles. I am very worried about the slippery slope of OBC and this case.
OBC went after an attorney who got into a spat with their neighbors over delivered packages recently. My understanding is that anything you do anywhere that OBC thinks reflects on your trustworthiness is on the table. To be fair, you can be disbarred for serious crimes regardless of whether one is acting as an attorney. So it’s not the slippery slope that it may seem.
3:30 here. A conviction absolutely reflects on your ability to practice law and is fair game. In the neighborhood dispute case, that attorney was convicted of a crime. But Jones has not been convicted much less charged with any crime.
The OBC absolutely can (and will) come after you for “non-lawyer” activities, because anything that negatively reflects on your ability to practice law is fair game.
E.g., you can be disciplined for criminal convictions unrelated to practicing law (DUI, theft, sexual assault, etc.)
OBC can and will come after you for non-lawyer activities that have nothing to do with your ability to practice law. It is a slippery slope and until you or someone you know are facing a discipline panel, you have no idea how far down that slippery slope we already are.
OBC will absolutely go after you for non-lawyer activities.
They should all be disbarred for voting for development for The Rich and Privileged ‘three and a half miles from the Red Rock Visitors Center. Clark County approved the development in October 2023.’ Add County Counsel to the list for advising them to betray the best interests of the community.
I am talking about the new one not the 2022 one.
There’s another, more recent one, than the 2022 one??
“legalization of marijuana in Nevada did “nothing” to halt black market.”
Why is anyone surprised? The initial impetus was that by decriminalizing possession, the prices would be so low as to drive out illegal sales. By the time the politicians and bureaucrats got done with it, brick and mortar costs, huge licensing fees and taxes, I suspect it is cheaper to buy from an unlicensed (illegal) marijuana dealer on a street corner.
It is. . . . . with delivery and no taxes.
Best yet, new “black market” gets access to the same products. Tinctures, edibles and vapes.
What date is the O/U on when Judge Israel is going get around to ruling on the Motion to Intervene in the Mormon Temple lawsuit? Put me down for January 10, which will require all other dates to be reset.
Someone tell Todd Bice’s associate to get back to work. There’s no need to post on the blog every other day that you have a pending motion. Just like the rest of us with cases in front of Israel, you can wait for your decisions.
It’s the OBC and then become defendants counsel. The worse the system the more they get in private practice. No incentive to do right absent morals.
Just read the Complaint filed by the OBC against Sandy Van and the responsive pleading filed by Van’s counsel. The stereotype of small firms and solos getting in trouble with the bar remains true.
I really, really dislike OBC, but I would not be advocating for Sandy Van. I’ve known her for 10+ years and I’m honestly shocked it has taken this long for OBC to catch up with her. There was a recent published decision on flat fees that came out and I have the same opinion of that attorney. That’s the most frustrating part of the whole thing. Go to lunch with a group of attorneys and we all know who’s unethical and who’s definitely screwing their clients, but those are the same people who go years and years, doing immeasurable damage to clients and the community who rarely if ever get held accountable. Maybe if OBC had any practical experience whatsoever, but they don’t. Just a couple of government workers milking that taxpayer teat.
Whether or not SV is deserving of sympathy is a totally independent question of whether or not OBC engaged in prosecutorial misconduct. I perused the filings, and there is an allegation that somehow 2,200 confidential pages from the investigation ended up in 16.1 disclosures in a totally unrelated PI case. If true, that is a serious violation of SCR 121 by OBC.
Holy crap! I just read the first half of her answering brief. OBC is out of control. Maybe next BoG election people should stop voting for more of the same and start voting in some new members.
How do you read these?
The SV case is on the Nevada Supreme Court website. It’s public with the transcripts described.