Possible O.J. Legal Fee is Half a Million

If O.J. Simpson hires a Las Vegas lawyer to defend him on armed robbery charges, he’ll likely have to pony up about $500,000. That’s the going rate in the city, according to one lawyer, the New York Post reports in a story that relies on wire reports. “Hopefully, he has…

Sep 18, 2007 1:51 PM CDT

NV High Court Mulls Halverson Suspension

Lawyers for controversial Las Vegas Judge Elizabeth Halverson told the Nevada Supreme Court last week that the state Judicial Discipline Commission did not have the authority to order her temporary suspension. Justices are expected to decide in the next few days whether to overturn the temporary suspension, the Associated Press…

Sep 17, 2007 10:59 AM CDT

OJ Simpson to AP: No Guns Involved

Updated: Former football superstar O.J. Simpson is considered a suspect in a possible armed robbery involving sports memorabilia taken from a hotel room in a Las Vegas casino, according to news reports. But Simpson, in an interview today, insists that no crime occurred and says there were no guns involved,…

Sep 14, 2007 4:03 PM CDT

Vegas Firm Adds White-Collar Defense Practice

Las Vegas law firm Gordon & Silver will establish a white-collar criminal defense practice after its merger with the firm of well-known lawyer Dominic Gentile. Gentile has been in the news lately for representing embattled Judge Elizabeth Halverson, the Las Vegas Business Press reports. To lawyers, he is perhaps best…

Sep 10, 2007 11:55 AM CDT

Ballard in CA, Competitor’s MP at Helm

Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll is opening an office in Los Angeles with the expectation that it will help the 500-lawyer Philadelphia-based law firm strengthen its flagship real estate and resort practice in the Southwest. In charge of the new office will be David C. Sampson, former managing partner of…

Sep 4, 2007 4:53 PM CDT

Bailiff Tells of Judge’s Shooting Remarks

The ex-bailiff for controversial Las Vegas Judge Elizabeth Halverson testified that she frequently asked him to shoot her husband, according to recently released transcripts. Johnnie Jordan said Halverson often made the remarks in front her husband, an ex-felon she called “evil Ed,” the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. But her spouse…

Aug 16, 2007 2:54 PM CDT

Temp Judge Fired Over MySpace Post

A temporary “pro tem” judge in North Las Vegas has lost his job over a post on his personal MySpace page that was reportedly hostile to prosecutors and used graphic language. Criminal defense attorney Jonathan MacArthur, 34, was substituting for another judge in North Las Vegas Justice Court, until his…

Aug 14, 2007 4:39 PM CDT

You’re NOT the Boss of Me

It’s hard to shock them in Las Vegas, but a former law clerk is managing to do just that

Aug 1, 2007 11:26 AM CDT

Nev. Judge to Appeal Suspension

The lawyer for controversial Las Vegas Judge Elizabeth Halverson promises an appeal of her interim suspension. William Gamage did not offer comment on the details of his client’s case, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. The suspension will remain in effect pending a decision on whether to formally charge the judge…

Jul 27, 2007 8:28 PM CDT

Nev. Judge Suspended, Poses ‘Substantial Threat,’ Commission Finds

A controversial Nevada judge was suspended today by the state Commission on Judicial Discipline, which found that Elizabeth Halverson “poses a substantial threat of serious harm” to the public and the administration of justice. In a final order of interim suspension filed today, the commission suspended the judge with pay,…

Jul 26, 2007 12:55 AM CDT

Observers Agog Over Nev. Judge Saga

Halfway into her first year on the bench, Clark County District Judge Elizabeth Halverson is one of the best-known jurists in Nevada. Although a law school classmate praises her as an attorney capable of Harvard Law Review-quality work, it isn’t her legal intellect that’s attracting all the attention. Instead, Halverson…

Jul 25, 2007 6:25 PM CDT

Three Accused of Enslaving Acrobats

Three men have been arrested on charges they enslaved more than 20 members of a Chinese acrobatic team that performed around the country. Police said the accused men confiscated the acrobats’ passports and visas, and paid and fed them little, Associated Press reports. A court-appointed attorney for one of the…

Jul 5, 2007 3:49 PM CDT

Rookie Judge Reportedly Investigated

A rookie Las Vegas judge who is fighting the chief judge’s effort to remove her is reportedly under investigation by a judicial conduct commission.

Judge Elizabeth Halverson has been accused of acting abusively toward her staff and behaving improperly on the bench, according to the Las Vegas Sun.

An affidavit from her former judicial executive assistant said Halverson made her staff have ice waiting on the bench for her and would scream if they let it melt, according to KVBC-TV in Las Vegas.

Jun 5, 2007 3:59 PM CDT