Nevada judge accused of demanding royal treatment

AP via SFGate ^ | 5/9/8 | KEN RITTER, Associated Press Writer

[SmithL]

LAS VEGAS, (AP) -- Elizabeth Halverson is a judge. But the way courthouse staffers see it, she expects to be treated like a queen.

Her former bailiff, for example, says Halverson made him feel like a "houseboy." He says the judge — who is obese and uses a motorized scooter to get around — made him put her shoes on her feet, massage her back, cover her with a blanket for naps and make sure her oxygen tank was filled. He says she asked him, "Do you want to worship me from near or afar?"

Halverson also surrounded herself with her own hired guards, saying she did not trust the courthouse security force to protect her. Another time, she allegedly had her husband sworn in so that she could ask him under oath if he had completed chores at home.

Since then, the 50-year-old Nevada district judge has been locked out of her Las Vegas courtroom, suspended from the bench and brought up on judicial-misconduct charges that include not only misusing her position and treating her staff like personal valets, but also tainting juries and falling asleep on the bench.

[Puppage]

suspended from the bench

That's one helluva bench, I'll tell ya.

[KJC1]

"Do you want to worship me from near or afar?"

LOL. What a piece of work! Glad she's off the bench.

[republicanequestrian]

Ok, regardless of the good or bad, or right or wrong, I got a good giggle reading this excerpt. What a priss! :D Note to the honorable judge: there are no queens in the USA. Try Britain.

[Puppage]

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Do we know who appointd her? Or are District Judges elected?

[San Jacinto]

Guilty!

[The KG9 Kid]

I love this state.

[lesser_satan]

He says the judge — who is obese and uses a motorized scooter to get around...

She should look into a career as a Wal-Mart greeter, since she probably won't be a judge much longer.

[Michael.SF.]

This reads like a portent of the Clinton II presidency.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Elected. Just answered my own question.

Reading the article helps. ;-)

[jws3sticks]

This posting was calling for a picture, which I am sorry to say follows. Hugh BARF Alert!!!

[TheWasteLand]

Philosopher kings.

[jazusamo]

This judge sounds like a real fruitcake. Here's a piece on her from a year ago.

Judge Halverson banned from courthouse

[TheWasteLand]

Where’s the judge? Is she behind that bus?

[Resolute Conservative]

Sorry, this may be a little un-PC but here it goes. How can a person disabled enough to require a scooter and oxygen expected to have a mind that is oxygen fed enough that they have enough gray matter to make intelligent decisions that affect a person’s liberty? The folks I have been around that require oxygen, while very social, are concentrating on breathing so much they cannot process complex items.

One of my peeves is judges appointed for life with no way to relieve them when their health fails ( at least not while a Republican is in office ).

[Just another Joe]

They are elected directly by vote of the public.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

GUILTY!!!!

AAaauuuugghhhh!!!!

[Abathar]

"Jeffrey Stempel, a law professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said he is troubled by what appears to be an attempt to "micromanage" a judge.

"Judicial removal should generally be reserved for corruption and complete incompetence or inability to do the job," Stempel said. "One question you have to ask is, `Is this judge so bad we have to remove her before the voters have a chance to do so?'""

In a word - YES!

[avacado]

"Beep, beep... Out'of'my way... 500lbs of big momma love machine coming through..."

[jws3sticks]

Talk about putting 50 pounds of bull crap in a 15 pound bag. The picture says it all.

Let's hope someone checks out her expense account, too. My bet is they'll find a lot of special expenses for bon-bon's.

[bert]

Is that an oxygen bubble under her chin? She looks ready to blow up.

[donna]

Maybe if she was thin people would think she’s just a funny broad.

[sitetest]

I was hopin’ that there wouldn’t be a photo requirement to this thread.

Yikes.

[antiRepublicrat]

From another source:

Regularly dined on BBQ ribs and Italian food with deliberating jurors—while engaging in a freewheeling Q and A about the case and the law

Elected by the county voters and, sadly, a Republican.

[Puppage]

I was hopin’ that there wouldn’t be a photo requirement to this thread.

I should be ashamed of myself.

[domenad]

Hell, all I have to do is show up for trial with cheesecake and I’ll win hands down.

[paul51]

There’s someone that would inspire a lot of confidence and respect in the court.

[AppyPappy]

Jabba the Judge

[tsmith130]

Looks like the blanket was just pulled off her head in that pic.

[American Quilter]

Jabba the Judge

LOL! This woman's got serious problems, but her behavior erodes my sympathy.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

That's one helluva bench, I'll tell ya.

Must have been built by Norm.

[UCANSEE2]

“Elected by the county voters and, sadly, a Republican.”

Republican, yes, but as far as conservative, I don’t think that applies, especially to her eating habits.

Although, that isn’t the reason she should be removed.

[Doomonyou]

Guilty!^10th

[happinesswithoutpeace]

“She has submitted a report from a therapist who diagnosed her with an adjustment disorder, anxiety and depression.”

0_o

[Doomonyou]

...said her attorney, John Arrascada. "It's apparent that some people believe her physical appearance somehow makes her unable to perform her duties as a judge." He added: "Last time I checked, being a judge doesn't require a beauty contest."

But in this case, well make an exception.

[Rdev]

RINO - seems to come to mind . . .

[highimpact]

Regularly dined on BBQ ribs and Italian food with and deliberating jurors

Fixed.

[Non-Sequitur]

suspended from the bench

With what? A derrick?

[Doomonyou]

Yeah, A real one.

[shorty_harris]

The poor little scooter!

[philled]

“She has submitted a report from a therapist who diagnosed her with an adjustment disorder, anxiety and depression.”

My name's Dewey Oxberger. My friends call me "Ox". You might have noticed I've got a slight weight problem.

Anyway, I went to this doctor. Well, he told me I swallowed a lot of aggression..."

...Along with a lot of pizzas!

Dewey Oxberger (John Candy) in Stripes

[mad_as_he$$]

All judges in Nevada are elected unless it is a special situation to fill an open seat for some reason. In that event the Judge has to run for the seat in the next election that is regularly scheduled. Candidates do NOT have to declare party affiliation.

[tsmith130]

ROTFLMAO!!

[CGTRWK]

Being so obese you can’t even walk - can’t even breathe - shows a lack of self control that should disqualify from any job passing judgement on others.

[Polyxene]

I didn’t know Jabba the Hutt had a wife! And here she is —living in Las Vegas!

[Doomonyou]

RINO - seems to come to mind . . .

[Arguendo]

Q: What do you call someone who graduates last in her law school class?

...

A: Your honor.

[JennysCool]

I don’t think it’s any accident she presides in the Capital of the Buffet.

[sheana]

She has submitted a report from a therapist who diagnosed her with an adjustment disorder, anxiety and depression. And she produced a letter from her physician, Dr. Michael Jacobs, who said she is diabetic, uses a wheelchair because of arthritis in her feet and knees, and needs oxygen to counteract the effects of sleep apnea.

Exactly the judge I want hearing a case of mine....NOT!