Retired Judge. Nancy Allf has joined JAMS. [press release via Lexology]
What’s the latest on the lawsuit over appraisal, Primm mall? [RJ]
Fontainebleau files counterclaim against Wynn. [RJ]
Judge Danielle Pieper rules CCSD must pay ACLU $36K in attorney fees. [8NewsNow]
Judge Erika Ballou rules Nevada Medicaid must cover abortions. [RJ]
Details have emerged about Judge Ballou’s defense put forth by her attorney Tom Pitaro to allegations of ethics violations with regard to the hot tub photo. [8NewsNow]
Clark County learns lessons from first spin in decades around Las Vegas Grand Prix track. [Nevada Current]
” Pitaro responded the photo and/or comment “taken during a wedding celebration, do not convey any rational or reasonable impression that the two public defenders can ‘influence’ the respondent in her judicial duties.” ”
Just like the UNLV Hot Tub photo does not convey any rational or reasonable impression that Richard “The Fixer” Perry had anything to do with UNLV’s 1991 Final Four Loss to Duke . . . . . . or, did it and Tarkanian’s career ending fallout.
Bad shit happens when hot tub photos go viral. Don’t post them, EVER.
I was 20 at the time and a UNLV undergrad student at the time. Tark then went 26-2 in the ’91-’92 season (as I recall) and was #1 ranked consistently all season, then prohibited from the playoffs. Fkg travesty.
I attended Pro Tark protests on campus and still have my black Ax Max T-Shirt. Though it does not even come close to fitting any longer.
That’s great. Describes me except 22 then. Had great times at the student union, games, and the parties. Don’t know you but glad you seem to be doing well.
Family Court Update: PG isn’t playing the family court cabal’s games and has ruled that the paternity statutes cannot be used/abused to exclude the media from family court. For you non-family court practitioners, the paternity statutes have long been used as a de facto sealing statute. A paternity case in family court was always automatically sealed. Once the Falconi writ opinion deemed the sealing statutes unconstitutional, the family court cabal started filing every custody (not divorce) case as a paternity case, arguing that paternity cases are sealed and were not specifically addressed in the writ. However, the supreme court’s opinion did not just strike the sealing statutes. It gave clear direction that the media cannot be excluded unilaterally or by statute. There has to be judicial discretion and it must be narrowly tailored. Apparently PG got that point and has refused to allow the cabal to unconstitutionally seal family court off from public scrutiny. Good job, PG!
Naming judges is not prohibited on this blog, is it? Particularly when you are giving credit for a job well done (in your opinion)? Why the initials that require us non-family-law-practitioners to look through the list of family court judges to figure out who the heck you are (apparently) talking about? (Judge Paul Gaudet, I now presume.)
I’ve been filing custody cases, choosing ‘Custody complaint’ and they’re getting filed as paternity cases. It’s not the attorneys choosing to file them as paternity cases, the e-filing system is doing it. When it first happened I thought my office screwed up but nope, court e-file system files it under a -P case.
So the clerks haven’t gotten the memo, are being obtuse, or are being directed in a potentially nefarious way. Probably haven’t gotten the memo is the correct answer, would be interesting if it’s something more.
Guest
Anonymous
March 20, 2024 3:58 pm
Blog is dead.
Guest
Anonymous
March 20, 2024 10:56 pm
As someone born in the sixties, I really like Fontainebleau starting its counterclaim with Eagles lyrics. Can anyone recall any other cases or pleadings that invoked famous songs/movie lines/etc.?
In a danger of outing myself, I have on numerous occasions quoted RUSH in Motions, Complaint and elsewhere. I have quoted Tupac, Dr. Dre, Eminem and Biggie.
Usually for my own amusement. But, its epic when the OC responds in kind or the Judge mentions it (that has only happened twice, Doug Smith and Ron Parraguirre).
I quote movies, song lyrics and classic novels all the time. Not only is it appreciated, but the right quote can be quite effective. In a pile of briefs that the judge reads Tuesday night, she is gonna remember mine. And the quote, if it fits, is going to stick in her mind as to the substance of the hearing.
This is garbage. If you are a “back the blue” bootlicker, you shouldn’t be working in a public defenders office. It’s disturbing that a hostile statement about police is considered to be inappropriate – FOR A PUBLIC DEFENDER. The police are not sacred cows, they wield tremendous power and should be viewed with skepticism, if not hostility at times. I would hope that every public defender and private defense counsel has a bit of “fuck the police” edge. They are crucial to protecting the constitutional rights of ALL of us, not just the presently accused!
Did you read the article? That office clearly had systemic issues of bullying and harassment that started at the very top. An assistant special public defender had to repeatedly urge Thomas (his boss) to stop the workplace bullying and, instead of confronting the harassers, she threatens to fire him? In what world does she deserve to keep her job?
The news story on JoNell and SPD only scratched the surface. How did they find time to be playing games on the backs of the accused. Representing those accused of serious crime is challenging. They must not have had enough to keep busy to play office politics and games.
I disagree with your statement. As every competent criminal defense lawyer knows, there are always large numbers of ex-cops working in public defender offices and in investigative capacities for private lawyers (usually through investigation firms). During my own time in a public defender office, I’m guessing 80% of our investigators were ex-cops. There was nothing wrong, at all, with someone having a “back the blue” mug. Also, having worked on thousands of criminal defense cases, a spirit of skepticism about what the cops do is healthy; but the “fu#k the cops” attitude is unprofessional and absurd. I had cops in my office many times. We always showed them respect because they deserve respect.
What message is sent to criminal defense clients when they see a defense counsel’s law office (whether it be private defense counsel or a public defender’s office) with “back the blue” imagery? What message might be received by the criminal defense client?
Serious failure of leadership, allowing personal feelings and politics to become an issue in the office. These people should be too busy doing actual work to participate in this childish nonsense of who is backing what. If you have time for petty office chit chat you have time to work a file.
As for the Judge Ballou “great tits” post.
” Pitaro responded the photo and/or comment “taken during a wedding celebration, do not convey any rational or reasonable impression that the two public defenders can ‘influence’ the respondent in her judicial duties.” ”
Just like the UNLV Hot Tub photo does not convey any rational or reasonable impression that Richard “The Fixer” Perry had anything to do with UNLV’s 1991 Final Four Loss to Duke . . . . . . or, did it and Tarkanian’s career ending fallout.
Bad shit happens when hot tub photos go viral. Don’t post them, EVER.
Damn dude u must be as old as I am. I remember that Perry photo I think in RJ. It was a big deal.
I was 20 at the time and a UNLV undergrad student at the time. Tark then went 26-2 in the ’91-’92 season (as I recall) and was #1 ranked consistently all season, then prohibited from the playoffs. Fkg travesty.
I attended Pro Tark protests on campus and still have my black Ax Max T-Shirt. Though it does not even come close to fitting any longer.
That’s great. Describes me except 22 then. Had great times at the student union, games, and the parties. Don’t know you but glad you seem to be doing well.
You might actually know me. 🤣
Glad to reminisce with you though.
Family Court Update: PG isn’t playing the family court cabal’s games and has ruled that the paternity statutes cannot be used/abused to exclude the media from family court. For you non-family court practitioners, the paternity statutes have long been used as a de facto sealing statute. A paternity case in family court was always automatically sealed. Once the Falconi writ opinion deemed the sealing statutes unconstitutional, the family court cabal started filing every custody (not divorce) case as a paternity case, arguing that paternity cases are sealed and were not specifically addressed in the writ. However, the supreme court’s opinion did not just strike the sealing statutes. It gave clear direction that the media cannot be excluded unilaterally or by statute. There has to be judicial discretion and it must be narrowly tailored. Apparently PG got that point and has refused to allow the cabal to unconstitutionally seal family court off from public scrutiny. Good job, PG!
Naming judges is not prohibited on this blog, is it? Particularly when you are giving credit for a job well done (in your opinion)? Why the initials that require us non-family-law-practitioners to look through the list of family court judges to figure out who the heck you are (apparently) talking about? (Judge Paul Gaudet, I now presume.)
I’ve been filing custody cases, choosing ‘Custody complaint’ and they’re getting filed as paternity cases. It’s not the attorneys choosing to file them as paternity cases, the e-filing system is doing it. When it first happened I thought my office screwed up but nope, court e-file system files it under a -P case.
As Arte Johnson used to say: very interesting.
So the clerks haven’t gotten the memo, are being obtuse, or are being directed in a potentially nefarious way. Probably haven’t gotten the memo is the correct answer, would be interesting if it’s something more.
Blog is dead.
As someone born in the sixties, I really like Fontainebleau starting its counterclaim with Eagles lyrics. Can anyone recall any other cases or pleadings that invoked famous songs/movie lines/etc.?
In a danger of outing myself, I have on numerous occasions quoted RUSH in Motions, Complaint and elsewhere. I have quoted Tupac, Dr. Dre, Eminem and Biggie.
Usually for my own amusement. But, its epic when the OC responds in kind or the Judge mentions it (that has only happened twice, Doug Smith and Ron Parraguirre).
I quote movies, song lyrics and classic novels all the time. Not only is it appreciated, but the right quote can be quite effective. In a pile of briefs that the judge reads Tuesday night, she is gonna remember mine. And the quote, if it fits, is going to stick in her mind as to the substance of the hearing.
Sounds like you’re old enough to know what’s right but young enough not to choose it.
Perhaps even wise enough to win the world,
but fool enough to lose it.
JoNell Thomas shown the door. https://www.reviewjournal.com/investigations/county-special-public-defender-retires-after-investigation-into-anti-police-culture-3020923/?utm_campaign=widget&utm_medium=topnews&utm_source=homepage&utm_term=County%20Special%20Public%20Defender%20retires%20after%20investigation%20into%20anti-police%20culture
This is garbage. If you are a “back the blue” bootlicker, you shouldn’t be working in a public defenders office. It’s disturbing that a hostile statement about police is considered to be inappropriate – FOR A PUBLIC DEFENDER. The police are not sacred cows, they wield tremendous power and should be viewed with skepticism, if not hostility at times. I would hope that every public defender and private defense counsel has a bit of “fuck the police” edge. They are crucial to protecting the constitutional rights of ALL of us, not just the presently accused!
Did you read the article? That office clearly had systemic issues of bullying and harassment that started at the very top. An assistant special public defender had to repeatedly urge Thomas (his boss) to stop the workplace bullying and, instead of confronting the harassers, she threatens to fire him? In what world does she deserve to keep her job?
The news story on JoNell and SPD only scratched the surface. How did they find time to be playing games on the backs of the accused. Representing those accused of serious crime is challenging. They must not have had enough to keep busy to play office politics and games.
I disagree with your statement. As every competent criminal defense lawyer knows, there are always large numbers of ex-cops working in public defender offices and in investigative capacities for private lawyers (usually through investigation firms). During my own time in a public defender office, I’m guessing 80% of our investigators were ex-cops. There was nothing wrong, at all, with someone having a “back the blue” mug. Also, having worked on thousands of criminal defense cases, a spirit of skepticism about what the cops do is healthy; but the “fu#k the cops” attitude is unprofessional and absurd. I had cops in my office many times. We always showed them respect because they deserve respect.
What message is sent to criminal defense clients when they see a defense counsel’s law office (whether it be private defense counsel or a public defender’s office) with “back the blue” imagery? What message might be received by the criminal defense client?
Serious failure of leadership, allowing personal feelings and politics to become an issue in the office. These people should be too busy doing actual work to participate in this childish nonsense of who is backing what. If you have time for petty office chit chat you have time to work a file.
Non-sequitur. Please engage with the questions posed.
Support Cops– “There is nothing wrong, at all. . . .”
Don’t Support Cops– ” unprofessional and absurd.”