Jackie Glass (Nevada)
Jackie Glass was a judge on the Nevada Eighth Judicial District Court. She was elected to the court in November 2002 and has served in the position since. Her last day was June 10, 2011, leaving the court to replace Nancy Grace on the TV show "Swift Justice."[1][2][3] She was succeeded by Carolyn Ellsworth, who was named by Governor Brian Sandoval in September 2011.[4]
Education
Glass received her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia in 1978 and her J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1984.[3]
Career
After obtaining a journalism degree, Glass worked as a radio new reporter, television anchor, and crime reporter.[3]
Career
Glass spent her legal career in private practice. In 2002, she was elected to the Nevada Eighth Judicial District Court.[3]
Civic activities
Glass helped establish the Clark County Mental Health Court in 2003 and created a task force which led to the creation of the Clark County Competency Court on November 16, 2005.[3]
Awards and associations
- 2007 Achievement Award, National Association of Counties
- Member, Las Vegas Housing Authority Board
- Former board member, Senior Citizens Law Project[3]
Reputation
Glass is known for having a no-nonsense reputation in the courtroom, and as a judge who is not afraid to hand out harsh sentences to convicted criminals.[5]
Glass has been criticized by the American Civil Liberties Union for reducing the constitutional rights of defendants in her courtroom for the sake of efficiency.[5]
Noteworthy cases
OJ Simpson Case
Glass was the presiding judge in the matter of Nevada v. Simpson as former pro football star OJ Simpson and Co-Defendant CJ Stewart is facing armed robbery and kidnapping charges in result of trying to get sports collectibles from dealers at a Las Vegas hotel.
On October 3, 2008, Simpson was found guilty on all counts of robbery. Simpson on December 5, 2008 was sentenced in the Clark County Court by Glass to a minimum of nine years in prison. During his sentencing hearing, Glass' mannerisms received notable press along with Simpson's downfall from once a professional football player to being a convicted robber.[6]
"Earlier in this case, at a bail hearing, I said to Mr. Simpson, I didn't know if he was arrogant, ignorant or both," Glass said. "During the trial and through this proceeding, I got the answer, and it was both."[6][7]
Simpson and his lawyer appealed the ruling for a number of reasons, including the absence of African-Americans in the jury and the judge allowing comments about the 1994 murder case during which Simpson was acquitted.[7]
Other criticisms of Glass have come from the legal community, suggesting there could be bias on Judge Glass's part on handling of the Simpson case as the alleged bias could result in Simpson's conviction being overturned by the Nevada Supreme Court.[8]
Mental health case review
Judge Glass has been under review by the Nevada Supreme Court in which she has refused public defenders with the Nevada Public Defenders Office on whether they can challenge if their clients are mentally competent to stand trial.[9]
Nevada Public defenders Christy Craig and Howard Brooks told during their oral arguments before the Nevada Supreme Court that they alleged that Judge Glass does not let them submit psychological evaluations from their doctors that they say refute doctors she has appointed to decide whether defendants are competent to stand trial.[9]
Brooks has said on this matter that: "Judge (Glass) refuses even to let defense attorneys read the entire evaluations the court-appointed doctors have prepared. Instead, Glass releases one-page summaries of their findings."[9]
While justices did not make an immediate decision on whether Glass' approach meets state laws, most raised questions about her methods. Nevada Supreme Court Justice James Hardesty challenged if whether any other court in the state handles competency issues the way Glass does. Hardesty said her method was not the one used when he was a circuit court judge in Washoe County raising questions on whether if her methods are ethical.[9]
So far, no action has been taken on the manner and it is unsure if the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline will pursue any disciplinary action pending the Nevada Supreme Court ruling.[9]
See also
External links
- Judge Glass's Biography at the Clark County Court Website
- Judge Glass's Webpage at Mahalo
- Daily Mail "Now that's Swift: Nancy Grace pulls the plug on her career as a TV judge after just one year," May 25, 2011
- Las Vegas Review-Journal, "Chief judge: Glass' departure leaves holes to fill," May 31, 2011
- The Associated Press "Selection panel taking applications for vacant Clark County District Court seat in Las Vegas" June 20, 2011
Footnotes
- ↑ Las Vegas Review Journal, "Judge Jackie Glass to replace Nancy Grace on 'Swift Justice'," May 24, 2011
- ↑ 16 apply for post vacated by judge-turned-TV host 7/23/11
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Clark County Courts, Jackie Glass Biography
- ↑ Las Vegas Sun "Carolyn Ellsworth named to replace Judge Jackie Glass" Sept. 22, 2011
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "MSNBC" Judge Jackie Glass Known for Tough Sentences, December 5, 2008
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "CNN," Judge Glass sentences OJ to Nine Years in Prison, December 5, 2008
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "FOXSports.com," Simpson faces Spartan Prison As Lawyers Appeal, December 7, 2008
- ↑ "American Chronicle" OJ trial – Payback, justice or both? December 6, 2008
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 "Las Vegas Review-Journal," SUPREME COURT: Judge's methods reviewed, September 3, 2008
Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Nevada • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Nevada
State courts:
Nevada Supreme Court • Nevada Court of Appeals • Nevada District Courts • Nevada Justice Courts • Nevada Municipal Courts • Clark County Family Court, Nevada
State resources:
Courts in Nevada • Nevada judicial elections • Judicial selection in Nevada
