Ban on Judge Halverson lifted
The Nevada Supreme Court has partially stayed the order of Eighth Judicial District Court Chief Judge Kathy Hardcastle barring District Court Judge Elizabeth Halverson from the Clark County Regional Justice Center. The stay is conditioned upon Halverson conforming to “the protocol applicable to other elected Eighth Judicial District Court Judges.” In the same order, the Court also directed Hardcastle to file an answer to Halverson’s Petition for Writ of Quo Warranto by 4:00 pm of May 23, 2007. Click here for a copy of the order.
The temporary assignment of Judge Huffaker to Halverson’s docket has been rescinded.
Justice Mark Gibbons has disclosed a non-disqualifying interest. Gibbons notes that in February, he met briefly with Justice Michael Cherry (who has recused himself from this matter due to involvement by his prior chambers staff) and Halverson for a brief discussion of the need to be courteous to all attorneys and litigants. He also noted that he had brief conversations with Judge Betsy Gonzales and Court Administrator Chuck Short regarding Halverson’s “purported meeting with a criminal jury during deliberations and the legal ramifications.” At that time, he stated the chief judge had the authority, under the Eighth Judicial District Court rules, to reassign a district judge to a specialized all civil calendar and that such assignment may be a better fit for Judge Halverson.” He does not believe these remarks indicate bias but discloses them so the parties to consider whether his disqualification is necessary. See the disclosure here.
