Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Sworn in as new DA, Wolfson promises to hit the ground running

Wolfson Sworn in as District Attorney

Steve Marcus

Steve Wolfson, center, the new district attorney recently appointed by the Clark County Commission, is congratulated by Nevada Supreme Court Judge Michael Cherry after a swearing-in ceremony at the County Government Center Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012. Wolfson’s wife Jackie Glass, former Clark County District Court judge, looks on at left. Wolfson replaces former district attorney David Roger.

Wolfson Sworn in as District Attorney

Steve Wolfson, center, the new district attorney recently appointed by the Clark County Commission, is sworn in by Nevada Supreme Court Judge Michael Cherry at the County Government Center Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012. Wolfson's wife Jackie Glass, former Clark County District Court judge, looks on at left.  Wolfson replaces former district attorney David Roger. Launch slideshow »

During a brief ceremony this morning, defense attorney and former Las Vegas Councilman Steve Wolfson was sworn in as the new Clark County District Attorney, taking over for David Roger.

During his swearing-in ceremony, Wolfson was flanked by his wife, TV judge Jackie Glass, their two daughters and six county commissioners.

He promised to hit the ground running, having already held meetings with staff. And he has a big job ahead, mending a fractured relationship with the County Commission, examining the relatively high number of expensive death penalty cases the district attorney's office has undertaken and changing how it deals with the controversial coroner's inquest system to review police-involved shootings.

Wolfson, who gave up the seat on the Las Vegas City Council that he had held for 7 1/2 years to accept the appointment, was selected by commissioners over two other finalists after a 4 1/2-hour public interview process a few weeks ago. The other finalists, selected by a county panel, were former Clark County Democratic Party chief John Hunt and Drew Christensen, director of the Clark County Office of Appointed Counsel, which selects private attorneys to represent indigent defendants.

Only Commissioner Lawrence Weekly voted against Wolfson's appointment, favoring Hunt instead. "I think all eyes will be on the new district attorney," he said after the Jan. 24 vote.

Wolfson promised commissioners and the public that he would improve the DA office's communication with the public and other county entities; increase diversity in the office; address the office's large number of pending death penalty cases; and give the new coroner's inquest system a try. "I've made comments to the board, and I told you the truth," he told commissioners following their vote to appoint him.

Roger resigned one year into a four-year term and has accepted a job as counsel to the police union.

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