The first defendant sentenced in the HOA scandal was given a year and a day in prison. [RJ]
Back in March, Family Court Department S Judge Vincent Ochoa and his opponent for the bench, Jason Stoffel, had a little run-in at a bar at the Family Law Conference in Ely. That spat has resulted in Ochoa being disqualified from a case. [RJ]
With the recent federal ruling that “Redskins” is disparaging and the NFL team’s trademarks should be cancelled, lots of questions crop up about what impact it will have. [Las Vegas Sun]
The ABA says its ethical for lawyers to look at potential juror’s social media pages. [RJ]
I think that Judge Vincent Ochoa has his hands full with Jason Stoffel. The rumors at Family Court say that most Judges and attorneys expect Stoffel to be victorious and to be the new Judge in Department S. Last week in the RJ article someone referred to Judge Vincent Ochoa as 'NOchoa' and apparently it has stuck as several people are now using the moniker 'NOchoa'.
I don't know who is running Jason Stoffel's campaign but they are doing one hell of a good job keeping him in the public eye! I saw a photo floating around of Stoffel donating blood and hanging out with Jose Canseco and now Stoffel is in the RJ. Kudos to Stoffel. You've got my vote and keep doing what you are doing. NOchoa has got to go!
I met Stoffel at a mixer….seems like a douche. But I don't do family law so I don't know what he is like in practice. I probably won't vote for him anyway.
Definitely NOT a douche! Has me vote and the tens of others from people who don't know who to vote for asking me because I'm in the box. Ochoa walks around like he runs the place glaring at the little people that are graced with his presence. Go Stoffel!
Guest
Anonymous
June 23, 2014 4:48 pm
Togliatti has once again proven she is unqualified to be a judge. The village idiot would understand this confrontation will cause a permanent prejudice between these two men and the public will suffer in all cases. Ochoa as a sitting judge had an obligation to take the high road here and if there was to be a conversation it should have never been in a bar, while drinking or in the presence of piers and others. Ochoa needs anger management and sensitivity training, his hot head and big mouth has proven him to be a questionable candidate, of course if all judges had to qualified candidates in Nevada and in particular Clark County none of the judges today would have jobs.
Guest
Anonymous
June 23, 2014 4:49 pm
If one reads "between the lines"…..one might say that the sitting judge admits to a minor act of bad behavior but most people who are accused will usually deny portions of the accusations. So the weight as to who to believe is kind of lopsided. Take a guess. (I'll bet that one would refuse to take a polygraph.)
Guest
Anonymous
June 23, 2014 4:51 pm
NOchoa then said: "OK, so maybe I raised my voice. Hmmmm, alright maybe I did use profanity but I really didn't mean it……" Why so many Jones's in the Nevada Judiciary? Are they really that dense….? Don't answer that, they are ! I am voting for Jason Stoffel !
NOchoa probably cussed out Stoffel in Spanglish. Vote for Stoffel folks
Guest
Elizabeth Thompson
June 23, 2014 4:52 pm
Mr Ochoa, I have video of you dozing off at the bench, of you having to be reminded why your court is in session, of you flip flopping and changing your mind in the same sessions. You make me sick to my stomach. You are a bought and paid for judge you goes with whatever atty will support your campaign or that you can bully into supporting your campaign. Funny how my boys begged and pleaded you to help let them stay with me because of what their father was doing. Ya they know nothing of what the want. Right sure they dont. Even at 16 and almost 14 they still beg to be with their bothers and sister who their father refuses to allow him contact with. I can't wait for you to have to face the Lord above one day and explain to him why you hurt so many of his children. Good riddance to you I pray.
Judge Ochoa is incapable of making a reasonable decision, he flip flops from court appearance to court appearance, he does not read his own previous decisions and yes he is a "dozer" in the court room…he does not listen to children who are old enough to know what they want ie: 14 years old and he allows the LOUDEST attorney in the courtroom to take over and tell him how to decide….don't kid yourself he is unfit for judicial office
Ochoa always rules in favor of my clients. Regardless of what anybody says and no matter who calls him 'NOchoa' I am supporting him. Besides if he does go in the direction of attorneys like myself, why would I mess up a good thing?
Anybody who has had to endure NOchoa in the court room needs no prompting to vote for Stoffel. Ochoa doesn't review submitted docs but supposedly has his staff prepare a summary. Who's making the rulings? I don't see Ochoa's staff's signature on any filed document! An interview on 720 am last March has Ochoa clearly stating that he doesn't follow the law if he feels differently. Too many of these family court judges have a GOD complex!!
Guest
Anonymous
June 23, 2014 4:55 pm
What's scary is that Chief Judge Jennifer Togliatti didn't think that this incident was enough to show any appearance of impropriety and Ochoa's impartiality to be reasonably questioned. You were pointing your finger and cursing at your election opponent. I don't know how Judge Jennifer Togliatti didn't think Ochoa's impartiality would be questioned?!?!
Guest
Jason Stoffel fan
June 23, 2014 4:58 pm
NOchoa is lazy, incompetent and not liked at all. I will VOTE FOR JASON STOFFEL.
Guest
Anonymous
June 23, 2014 5:16 pm
So, um, are all these first twelve comments from the same IP address? Because I sort of have a hard time believing that even if he were the most terrible judge on the planet, that twelve different people posted anti-Ochoa statements in the span of twenty minutes on an obscure legal blog. Sock puppets, go home. (Also, obscure, but well-loved. Really, I mean it.)
Apparently Jason Stoffel has lots of supporters and NOchoa does not because there are lots of positive comments about Jason Stoffel. I do not know Jason Stoffel but will definitely check out his website and attend his next event.
Agreed. This may be the worst attempt at ghost-blog writing I've ever seen. I know nothing about either candidate (and really don't care about family court) but I'm going to vote for Ochoa as a protest vote against blog misuse.
1:58: I agree. The transparent sock-puppeting is shameful. Both because it is attempting to offer a slanted view of reality and because it is so transparent it makes me question the reasoning and ability of the people this Stoffel character hired.
The purpose of a blog is to blog. There are no set rules of how many people can blog for or against a subject or a person. There are no set rules that says how frequently or often a blog can be posted either. Funny. I hope to God that you are not attorneys.
If you want to be sticklers then focus on NOchoa getting in the face of Stoffel and trying to provoke his anger to cause a fist-fight with Judges and attorneys present.
You miss the point. It is readily apparent the poster in one person pretending to be multiple people posting the nearly identical message multiple times.
Guest
Maria Sanchez
June 23, 2014 5:24 pm
Judge Ochoa handled my custody and support case earlier in this year. I do not have any problem with his ruling even though I did not get everything that I wanted. However at some times during the trial he was very unsure of himself and seemed like he did prepare or review the motions before we (parties and attorneys) appeared in front of him. I think that if he reviewed the paperwork in advance that the trial would have finished faster and maybe he would have made a different decision. Because of this I am voting for Jason Stoffel because I think that he will take the time to prepare and review each case in advance.
Guest
Anonymous
June 23, 2014 5:34 pm
So for the non-federal practitioners, because of "good time" credit in federal sentencing, the HOA defendant will do about 10 months with a portion of that in a half-way house.
Ochoa has a miserable demeanor. Besides that he exercised bad judgment getting in Stoffel's face at the Family Law Conference in Ely. Not very bright. Stoffel was trailing but has caught up and it is now possible for him to beat Ochoa. Another Family Law Judge bites the dust………….
Guest
Anonymous
June 23, 2014 10:42 pm
I'm with 2:01. I'm voting for MOchoa in protest against the "transparent sock-puppeting" employed by the Stoffel campaign.
I feel the same way. Before this round of "transparent sock-puppeting" I was pretty neutral on this race, but now I'm leaning heavily toward the incumbent.
Guest
Anonymous
June 24, 2014 3:40 am
I am not voting for a Judge who tries to bully his opponent. That is unprofessional and unclassy. My vote is for Stoffel.
Guest
Anonymous
June 24, 2014 4:08 am
Having dealt with Stoffel a few times and heard the stories of others, I must say that the guy is classless and pretty unimpressive. I have yet to hear a single constructive thing come out of the guy's mouth about what he would do as judge. There's no there there, so he's left with going negative as a means of pulling Ochoa down into his mud pit. However you view Ochoa (and I actually like the guy, even though I don't practice family law) at least he's got longstanding ties to the community and a family law resume that makes him credible as a family court judge. Not so, Stoffel.
Stoffel comits perjury falsifies court pleadings, fabricates evidence and violates candor to the court he eoukd make a petfect judge he already confirms he is corrupt and the poster child for corruption in the courts
Ask Amanda Roberts why her husband is running against Ochoa. When grandparents are fighting over custody, it would seem reasonable for a judge to ask why Mom was not present in court. Problem was Dad killed her. Ochoa asked Ms. Roberts why Mom was not present AT TWO DIFFERENT hearings. Perhaps when Ms. Roberts responded "she's dead" at the first hearing, Ochoa did not hear. But of course, if was prepared, and had read the file, he would have known why Mom was not present. But, there was NO EXCUSE for him to ask at the next hearing.(What should Ms. Roberts say, "She's still dead, judge.") The Honorable Judge granted custody to Dad's parents. This is why I will not vote for Ochoa. I have litigated several cases against Jason Stoffel. He is reasonable and willing to negotiate a settlement. Classless? That's Ochoa taking on Stoffel in a bar.
Look at the pending appeal in the Nevada Supreme Court against his Cooley classmate fellow attorney Wendy Kazel after you read the appeal statment you woukd not vote for stoffel in my opinion he shoukd be disbarred
Anonymous 12:08 p.m.. Can you provide more information on the pending appeal, perhaps the link to the appeal statement or attach. It is hard to follow if you don't follow.
Thanks
1:34–haven't you ever been told not to feed the trolls. This same person has brought this stuff up numerous times. Just search the relevant names and you'll see.
I just read the case and the appeal statment, I hope the poor schumck is successful in getting a favorable outcome in the Supreme Court and he takes the Kazel for all she has in front of a jury, I am going to represent him at trial and going to have a field day with her in front of a jury. And I am going to do it pro bono. This attorney needs to learn a lesson
You will have to go to law school first, then take the Bar, then pass Character and Fitness. After all of those are completed, hopefully someone will explain the legal fallacy in your story above. Little hope of any of those for you.
I think that Judge Vincent Ochoa has his hands full with Jason Stoffel. The rumors at Family Court say that most Judges and attorneys expect Stoffel to be victorious and to be the new Judge in Department S. Last week in the RJ article someone referred to Judge Vincent Ochoa as 'NOchoa' and apparently it has stuck as several people are now using the moniker 'NOchoa'.
I don't know who is running Jason Stoffel's campaign but they are doing one hell of a good job keeping him in the public eye! I saw a photo floating around of Stoffel donating blood and hanging out with Jose Canseco and now Stoffel is in the RJ. Kudos to Stoffel. You've got my vote and keep doing what you are doing. NOchoa has got to go!
I met Stoffel at a mixer….seems like a douche. But I don't do family law so I don't know what he is like in practice. I probably won't vote for him anyway.
Anyone who calls Jason a "douche" doesn't know him. He's a great guy and has my vote!
Jason Stoffel is one of the nicest and humblest guys that you will ever meet. He is down to earth and a great all-around guy.
Definitely NOT a douche! Has me vote and the tens of others from people who don't know who to vote for asking me because I'm in the box. Ochoa walks around like he runs the place glaring at the little people that are graced with his presence. Go Stoffel!
Togliatti has once again proven she is unqualified to be a judge. The village idiot would understand this confrontation will cause a permanent prejudice between these two men and the public will suffer in all cases. Ochoa as a sitting judge had an obligation to take the high road here and if there was to be a conversation it should have never been in a bar, while drinking or in the presence of piers and others. Ochoa needs anger management and sensitivity training, his hot head and big mouth has proven him to be a questionable candidate, of course if all judges had to qualified candidates in Nevada and in particular Clark County none of the judges today would have jobs.
If one reads "between the lines"…..one might say that the sitting judge admits to a minor act of bad behavior but most people who are accused will usually deny portions of the accusations. So the weight as to who to believe is kind of lopsided. Take a guess. (I'll bet that one would refuse to take a polygraph.)
NOchoa then said: "OK, so maybe I raised my voice. Hmmmm, alright maybe I did use profanity but I really didn't mean it……" Why so many Jones's in the Nevada Judiciary? Are they really that dense….? Don't answer that, they are ! I am voting for Jason Stoffel !
NOchoa probably cussed out Stoffel in Spanglish. Vote for Stoffel folks
Mr Ochoa, I have video of you dozing off at the bench, of you having to be reminded why your court is in session, of you flip flopping and changing your mind in the same sessions. You make me sick to my stomach. You are a bought and paid for judge you goes with whatever atty will support your campaign or that you can bully into supporting your campaign. Funny how my boys begged and pleaded you to help let them stay with me because of what their father was doing. Ya they know nothing of what the want. Right sure they dont. Even at 16 and almost 14 they still beg to be with their bothers and sister who their father refuses to allow him contact with. I can't wait for you to have to face the Lord above one day and explain to him why you hurt so many of his children. Good riddance to you I pray.
Why don't you share the video? Put in on youtube or something so we can see it?
Share it!
Judge Ochoa is incapable of making a reasonable decision, he flip flops from court appearance to court appearance, he does not read his own previous decisions and yes he is a "dozer" in the court room…he does not listen to children who are old enough to know what they want ie: 14 years old and he allows the LOUDEST attorney in the courtroom to take over and tell him how to decide….don't kid yourself he is unfit for judicial office
Ochoa always rules in favor of my clients. Regardless of what anybody says and no matter who calls him 'NOchoa' I am supporting him. Besides if he does go in the direction of attorneys like myself, why would I mess up a good thing?
Anybody who has had to endure NOchoa in the court room needs no prompting to vote for Stoffel. Ochoa doesn't review submitted docs but supposedly has his staff prepare a summary. Who's making the rulings? I don't see Ochoa's staff's signature on any filed document! An interview on 720 am last March has Ochoa clearly stating that he doesn't follow the law if he feels differently. Too many of these family court judges have a GOD complex!!
What's scary is that Chief Judge Jennifer Togliatti didn't think that this incident was enough to show any appearance of impropriety and Ochoa's impartiality to be reasonably questioned. You were pointing your finger and cursing at your election opponent. I don't know how Judge Jennifer Togliatti didn't think Ochoa's impartiality would be questioned?!?!
NOchoa is lazy, incompetent and not liked at all. I will VOTE FOR JASON STOFFEL.
So, um, are all these first twelve comments from the same IP address? Because I sort of have a hard time believing that even if he were the most terrible judge on the planet, that twelve different people posted anti-Ochoa statements in the span of twenty minutes on an obscure legal blog. Sock puppets, go home. (Also, obscure, but well-loved. Really, I mean it.)
Stoffel posted a link on his Facebook page. Not surprising that people who like and support him landed here.
Yeah, I noticed the time stamps too. I just figured it was Stoffel posting all of those things. Pathetic.
I agree.It's the same poster and seems a tad racist to boot.
Apparently Jason Stoffel has lots of supporters and NOchoa does not because there are lots of positive comments about Jason Stoffel. I do not know Jason Stoffel but will definitely check out his website and attend his next event.
Seriously??? Clearly these posts are all from Stoffel and/or his campaign manager!
You are fooling nobody. GO AWAY.
Agreed. This may be the worst attempt at ghost-blog writing I've ever seen. I know nothing about either candidate (and really don't care about family court) but I'm going to vote for Ochoa as a protest vote against blog misuse.
1:58: I agree. The transparent sock-puppeting is shameful. Both because it is attempting to offer a slanted view of reality and because it is so transparent it makes me question the reasoning and ability of the people this Stoffel character hired.
The purpose of a blog is to blog. There are no set rules of how many people can blog for or against a subject or a person. There are no set rules that says how frequently or often a blog can be posted either. Funny. I hope to God that you are not attorneys.
If you want to be sticklers then focus on NOchoa getting in the face of Stoffel and trying to provoke his anger to cause a fist-fight with Judges and attorneys present.
You miss the point. It is readily apparent the poster in one person pretending to be multiple people posting the nearly identical message multiple times.
Judge Ochoa handled my custody and support case earlier in this year. I do not have any problem with his ruling even though I did not get everything that I wanted. However at some times during the trial he was very unsure of himself and seemed like he did prepare or review the motions before we (parties and attorneys) appeared in front of him. I think that if he reviewed the paperwork in advance that the trial would have finished faster and maybe he would have made a different decision. Because of this I am voting for Jason Stoffel because I think that he will take the time to prepare and review each case in advance.
So for the non-federal practitioners, because of "good time" credit in federal sentencing, the HOA defendant will do about 10 months with a portion of that in a half-way house.
And this is the defendant that did NOT enter into a deal, right?
correct
Ochoa has a miserable demeanor. Besides that he exercised bad judgment getting in Stoffel's face at the Family Law Conference in Ely. Not very bright. Stoffel was trailing but has caught up and it is now possible for him to beat Ochoa. Another Family Law Judge bites the dust………….
I'm with 2:01. I'm voting for MOchoa in protest against the "transparent sock-puppeting" employed by the Stoffel campaign.
I feel the same way. Before this round of "transparent sock-puppeting" I was pretty neutral on this race, but now I'm leaning heavily toward the incumbent.
I am not voting for a Judge who tries to bully his opponent. That is unprofessional and unclassy. My vote is for Stoffel.
Having dealt with Stoffel a few times and heard the stories of others, I must say that the guy is classless and pretty unimpressive. I have yet to hear a single constructive thing come out of the guy's mouth about what he would do as judge. There's no there there, so he's left with going negative as a means of pulling Ochoa down into his mud pit. However you view Ochoa (and I actually like the guy, even though I don't practice family law) at least he's got longstanding ties to the community and a family law resume that makes him credible as a family court judge. Not so, Stoffel.
Stoffel comits perjury falsifies court pleadings, fabricates evidence and violates candor to the court he eoukd make a petfect judge he already confirms he is corrupt and the poster child for corruption in the courts
WELCOME BACK! I was wondering when the crazy Stoffel ranter would reappear.
It's academic, anyway. Ochoa will win by at least 10 points. Bet on it.
NOchoa will lose by 2-5 points. Bet on that.
Ask Amanda Roberts why her husband is running against Ochoa. When grandparents are fighting over custody, it would seem reasonable for a judge to ask why Mom was not present in court. Problem was Dad killed her. Ochoa asked Ms. Roberts why Mom was not present AT TWO DIFFERENT hearings. Perhaps when Ms. Roberts responded "she's dead" at the first hearing, Ochoa did not hear. But of course, if was prepared, and had read the file, he would have known why Mom was not present. But, there was NO EXCUSE for him to ask at the next hearing.(What should Ms. Roberts say, "She's still dead, judge.") The Honorable Judge granted custody to Dad's parents. This is why I will not vote for Ochoa. I have litigated several cases against Jason Stoffel. He is reasonable and willing to negotiate a settlement. Classless? That's Ochoa taking on Stoffel in a bar.
Look at the pending appeal in the Nevada Supreme Court against his Cooley classmate fellow attorney Wendy Kazel after you read the appeal statment you woukd not vote for stoffel in my opinion he shoukd be disbarred
Anonymous 12:08 p.m.. Can you provide more information on the pending appeal, perhaps the link to the appeal statement or attach. It is hard to follow if you don't follow.
Thanks
1:34–haven't you ever been told not to feed the trolls. This same person has brought this stuff up numerous times. Just search the relevant names and you'll see.
I believe it is the actual litigant. We've been down this road before. Same "proofs" as in the litigants complaint.
Yeah 12:08 is a freak. Don't feed that troll.
STOFFEL FOR PERJURY
OPPS I meant judge Hahaha I must be a litigant also
Good Morning Wendy someone questioning your stellar reputation again
She could not be that stellar with only 2 active cases even the judges over at family court laugh at her
Aren't you a tad like a stalker?
Why is Wendy so upset ? She keeps doing a reply
Maybe she has to churn her clients to make a living if she was that stellar she would have a load of dockets
Yup, stalker.
I just read the case and the appeal statment, I hope the poor schumck is successful in getting a favorable outcome in the Supreme Court and he takes the Kazel for all she has in front of a jury, I am going to represent him at trial and going to have a field day with her in front of a jury. And I am going to do it pro bono. This attorney needs to learn a lesson
You will have to go to law school first, then take the Bar, then pass Character and Fitness. After all of those are completed, hopefully someone will explain the legal fallacy in your story above. Little hope of any of those for you.
Looks like the 10:28 troll is back