Binion trial turns Las Vegan into a regular at the courthouse

When Charlotte Fox graduated from high school, she wanted to be a military police officer, but her father wouldn't let her.

"It wasn't the girlie thing to do," Fox said.

Now nearly 40 years later, Fox spends all of her free time with criminals.

And judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys.

Fox, 54, is a courtroom junkie. Whenever she isn't assisting her orthopedic surgeon boss as an operating room technician, Fox is at the Clark County Courthouse.

Just like the attorneys who run from courtroom to courtroom to defend their clients, Fox pops in and out, hoping to catch the latest tidbit from the more fascinating cases.

Longtime Las Vegas residents probably won't be surprised, but Fox's hobby began with the Ted Binion murder trial earlier this year.

Watching the pretrial hearings live on Las Vegas ONE, Cox cable channels 1 and 39, wasn't enough, Fox said. She wanted to feel the excitement of the courtroom.

The trial, which started at the end of March, lasted eight weeks, and she was in the courtroom for portions of at least 25 days, Fox said.

"My employer even gave me days off during closing arguments and during the sentencing phase," Fox said.

Since then, Fox has watched five or six other murder trials and caught countless pretrial hearings.

"Whenever I can fit time in between surgery and the office, I come to the courthouse," Fox said.

Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger, who was one of the prosecutors in the Binion trial, said Fox is one of a new breed of court-watchers. They used to be elderly, retired people.

"A lot of the murder cases are like soap operas, and I guess instead of sitting home, coming here is a good alternative," Roger said. "They can come learn about the criminal justice system and watch the soap opera unfold."

To say her new hobby has changed her life isn't trite, Fox said. Since March she has lost about 100 pounds.

"I've been so busy," Fox said. "The trials took my mind off eating. I was always running back and forth from work to the courthouse, because I wanted to be here for Binion and later on, the (other) trials."

Fox said she has been feeling so great, she bought a treadmill and has been walking six miles three days a week. She also has a new boyfriend, a Metro Police officer she met at the courthouse.

Over the past several months, Fox has become knowledgeable about what were once vague concepts -- things such as arraignments and plea agreements.

"I used to think that once the grand jury indicted someone, they went straight to trial," Fox said.

Fox isn't shy about offering her opinion on the few judges she has met.

Joseph Bonaventure is "charismatic," Sally Loehrer is "fair and compassionate," Kathy Hardcastle is "tough" and James Mahan is "eloquent."

As for the attorneys, Fox said, she believes most are passionate and dedicated.

"I think the system works as good as it can with the number of crimes that are committed here," Fox said.

Fox said most of her friends and family enjoy hearing the stories she has to share.

"Nobody thinks I need to be locked up yet," Fox said with a laugh.

Fox said she plans to keep visiting the courthouse until it gets boring. She doesn't think that's going to happen anytime soon, though.

"I learn something new about the law every day," Fox said.

archive