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425 Pound Woman Judge Just Doesn't See Failure To Treat People With Dignity, Respect
ReviewJournal ^ | 28 May 2007 | Jane Ann Morrison's

Posted on 05/28/2007 8:36:10 AM PDT by Hal1950


The District Judge Elizabeth Halverson saga is starting to creep beyond the borders of Nevada and into the California news media, while locally the docudrama is the first thing many of us read each day. When they make a TV special of it, I'd like to suggest a name: Power and Paranoia.

Halverson spent nine years as a fairly lowly law clerk. (I always assumed the 425-pound woman, according to her driver's license, stayed as long as she could for the county's health insurance coverage.) After she was fired, she ran for one judgeship, lost, but in 2006 won on her second try.

Before long, stories started coming out of the Regional Justice Center about her contemptuous behavior toward her staff, particularly her bailiff, Johnny Jordan. Halverson, who had never had real power, was relishing it, throwing a pencil on the floor and ordering him to pick it up. Jordan was ordered to give her foot rubs and back massages. He has since filed a complaint against his former boss alleging discrimination based on sex and race. He is black and says she treated him like a "house boy."

Her court clerk, Katherine Streuber, said the judge's behavior was "vile, angry, degrading to anyone within her path." Streuber also objected to being called "the evil one" and "the anti-Christ" by the judge. (We in the news business hear that every other day, but courthouse employees are unaccustomed.)

Court officials realized they were going to be slapped with multiple lawsuits alleging hostile work environment if no action was taken. Three judges were asked to help Halverson, Family Court Judge Art Ritchie and District Judges Stewart Bell and Sally Loehrer.

A memo details an April 6 meeting between Halverson and the three judges:

• She's told it's inappropriate to have staff rub her feet or her back. Her answer: She'd told the bailiff to stop that, that he'd become too familiar with her.

• She's told she should not require staff to show up at 6:45 a.m. to wait for her arrival at 8 or 8:30 a.m. Her answer: She'd told the bailiff not to come early, but he wouldn't listen.

• She's told she should not have staff make her lunch. Answer: The bailiff wants to make her lunch.

• She's told there are 20-25 orders missing. Answer: She's shocked.

• She's told it's unethical to make statements showing bias against attorneys, particularly those who didn't give to her campaign. Answer: Yes, she said it, but since nobody gave her money for her campaign, she's not discriminating against anyone.

• She's told the demeaning way she talks to her husband, Ed, referring to him as a "bitch" (and worse), is offensive to staff. Answer: She doesn't know why that would upset the staff, but the solution is to have him not come to her chambers.

• Told she should treat people with dignity and respect, Halverson said she didn't know specifically what she was doing wrong.

After she answered every allegation made against her, Judge Bell told her, "If you can't see it, you can't fix it. Get some psychological help."

On April 12, the three judges tried to meet with Halverson again at 4:30 p.m. She was in a civil nonjury trial. The three judges waited until 6 p.m. before leaving. Later, the judges said they confirmed her trial was over, but she waited in the courtroom until she confirmed they had departed. The judges said Halverson will "falsely" claim she was in trial. Essentially, the judges called her a liar.

Buoyed by power, convinced everyone is against her, Elizabeth Halverson, 49, has achieved what seems to be her heart's desire: She is the center of attention. She's page one news, and she leads the nightly television news.

The voters now know Elizabeth Halverson, but she has 18 months left on the bench before they can vote her out of office. That's too long a wait. The Judicial Discipline Commission, which has the power to remove her from office, cannot confirm if a complaint has been filed. However, I'm told investigators are now working a complaint against her.

Meanwhile, everyone who voted for her can enjoy the circus under the big tent we call the Regional Justice Center.


TOPICS: Unclassified
KEYWORDS: isjustalawyer; judge; judges; with2muchpower
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1 posted on 05/28/2007 8:36:12 AM PDT by Hal1950
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To: Hal1950

Bad case of black robe disease.


2 posted on 05/28/2007 8:38:37 AM PDT by AnAmericanMother ((Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment)))
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To: Hal1950

There must be some way she can be removed from office. Judicial misconduct?


3 posted on 05/28/2007 8:40:33 AM PDT by Joann37
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To: Hal1950

So after the Hut empire collapsed under assault from the Jedi, Jabba went to law school?


4 posted on 05/28/2007 8:41:24 AM PDT by domenad (In all things, in all ways, at all times, let honor guide me.)
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To: Hal1950

....and, NOW you know what it would be like if Rosie O’Dumbell had any REAL power....!!!


5 posted on 05/28/2007 8:43:01 AM PDT by JB in Whitefish
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To: Hal1950
Jordan was ordered to give her foot rubs and back massages.

Okay, I should have been given a warning before I read that.

6 posted on 05/28/2007 8:43:12 AM PDT by leadpenny
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To: Hal1950

“She’s told the demeaning way she talks to her husband, Ed,....”

Husband? The mind boggles.


7 posted on 05/28/2007 8:43:33 AM PDT by Mila
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To: Hal1950

I wonder if the “Twinkie” defense would work in her court for a perp?


8 posted on 05/28/2007 8:43:42 AM PDT by bigfootbob
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To: Hal1950; All
The voters now know Elizabeth Halverson, but she has 18 months left on the bench before they can vote her out of office ...

... or the bench breaks, whichever comes first.

9 posted on 05/28/2007 8:43:48 AM PDT by dighton
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To: Hal1950
Meanwhile, everyone who voted for her can enjoy the circus under the big tent we call the robe that she wears....

Fixed it.

10 posted on 05/28/2007 8:43:55 AM PDT by Philistone (Your existence as a non-believer offends the Prophet(MPBUH).)
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To: Hal1950

I had a hearing in South Texas in front of a judge who talked to the lawyers and made rulings from the bench through a sock puppet on his hand. He was not re-elected.


11 posted on 05/28/2007 8:45:06 AM PDT by JeeperFreeper
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To: Hal1950

This is one of the most bizarre stories I’ve ever heard


12 posted on 05/28/2007 8:46:49 AM PDT by SoftballMominVA (Never argue with an idiot. He will bring you down to his level and beat you with experience)
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To: Hal1950
Any relation to Rosie? Twin separated at birth?

Maybe a successor for the part of loving b*tchy sweathog for 'The View'?

Spousal abuser?

Geeez, Enquiring minds wanna know.

13 posted on 05/28/2007 8:48:16 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly.)
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To: Hal1950
• She's told she should not have staff make her lunch. Answer: The bailiff wants to make her lunch.

-so he can spit in it?

14 posted on 05/28/2007 8:48:47 AM PDT by tioga (Fred Thompson for President.)
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To: dighton
... or the bench breaks, whichever comes first.

LOL!

15 posted on 05/28/2007 8:49:35 AM PDT by KJC1
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To: Hal1950; Slings and Arrows

BTTT


16 posted on 05/28/2007 8:51:38 AM PDT by Fiddlstix (Warning! This Is A Subliminal Tagline! Read it at your own risk!(Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: Hal1950
Jordan was ordered to give her foot rubs and back massages.

The only appropriate response to this is, "Hell no, hambeast." I don't care if he was concerned for his job, there's no excuse for complying with such an order.
17 posted on 05/28/2007 8:51:46 AM PDT by Welsh Rabbit
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To: Hal1950

Would she like a job on The View?


18 posted on 05/28/2007 8:51:50 AM PDT by atomicpossum (Replies must follow approved guidelines or you will be kill-filed without appeal.)
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To: JeeperFreeper

We had a judge in Oklahoma that was using a sexual device under his robes while court was in session. He’s in prison now.


19 posted on 05/28/2007 8:52:04 AM PDT by digitalbrownshirt (http://digitalbrownshirt.blogspot.com)
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To: JeeperFreeper
I had a hearing in South Texas in front of a judge who talked to the lawyers and made rulings from the bench through a sock puppet on his hand. He was not re-elected.

He wasn't removed and had to to wait for re-election?

20 posted on 05/28/2007 8:53:06 AM PDT by Popman (New American Dream: Move to Mexican, cross the border, become an illegal. free everything)
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