North Las Vegas municipal judge loses job in misconduct case

Associated Press

Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 | 3:33 p.m.

The first female North Las Vegas judge in city history is losing her job, after admitting she engaged in seven instances of professional misconduct on the bench.

Catherine Ramsey's removal after five years hearing traffic violations and misdemeanor offenses was made public with a settlement of a state Commission on Judicial Discipline complaint posted Tuesday by the Nevada Supreme Court.

It said Ramsey will be suspended without pay for the final three months of her term, and barred from seeking the seat again next year.

Ramsey's attorney, William Terry, said Thursday that Ramsey's suspension begins Oct. 1. He noted that she volunteered not to run for re-election.

Ramsey remains a lawyer, and could run again for another judge position if she passes a fitness exam. But Terry said his client's future plans were undecided.

The report said Ramsey's supervisor, North Las Vegas Municipal Court Judge Sean Hoeffgen, also was reprimanded for failing to report Ramsey's misconduct.

Hoeffgen must complete an ethics class in October, under a separate settlement with the discipline commission.

The two judges make up the city's entire municipal bench.

Ramsey admitted improperly amending charges in several cases, against wishes of defense and prosecution attorneys. She also acknowledged making her judicial assistant do personal errands for her.

The settlement, dated Aug. 18, requires Ramsey to write apologies to three people who filed complaints against her.

The discipline commission didn't decide whether Ramsey improperly charged $12,000 on a city credit card to pay an attorney for a personal lawsuit filed against her.

That case is pending with the Clark County District Court.

The recall against Ramsey was launched in 2015 and had been unresolved. A state court judge rejected Ramsey's argument that judges can't be recalled. But Ramsey's appeal to the state Supreme Court is still pending.