Judicial Commission votes to remove Fine from bench

Fine has 15 days to appeal the decision.

Fine, 46, was accused of holding numerous prohibited conversations with parties involved in cases pending before her. She was also accused of failing to disclose that she had appointed her first cousin to serve as a mediator in one of those cases.

The commission held a public hearing on the issue last month.

Attorney William Terry, who represents Fine, has said she admits having the conversations and making the appointment, but denies any misconduct.

Las Vegas attorney Marshal Willick, who filed the complaint against Fine, said he did so after noticing a pattern of behavior from the judge.

In this year's Judicial Performance Evaluation, compiled by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Clark County Bar Association, Fine was rated Southern Nevada's worst judge. Of the attorneys who participated, only 24 percent said she should remain on the bench.

The Code of Judicial Conduct requires judges to avoid the appearance of impropriety. Except in certain specified circumstances, according to the code, "a judge shall not initiate, permit or consider ex parte communications."

In November 1995, the Judicial Discipline Commission ordered Fine to pay a $5,000 fine and gave her a letter of reprimand after finding that she had engaged in at least eight prohibited conversations with Family Court Judges Gerald Hardcastle and Steven Jones about a case involving a woman she had represented as a private attorney. Two commissioners dissented, saying they favored removing Fine from office.

Fine admitted she held the prohibited conversations and apologized for her behavior. She denied she had tried to influence the other judges.

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