Las Vegas Sun

April 26, 2024

Hearing set for suspended judge to challenge accusations

CARSON CITY — Suspended District Judge Steven Jones will have a chance on June 24 to challenge accusations that he misused his office to help his lawyer-girlfriend.

The state Judicial Discipline Commission has set the date for a hearing in Las Vegas.

A 12-point complaint filed in December 2012 alleges Jones had a “close social and personal relationship” with then-Deputy District Attorney Lisa Willardson. He refused to disqualify himself in cases handled by Willardson, even though opposing parties asked him to step aside, the complaint alleges.

The complaint says the rules of judicial conduct prohibit a judge from letting his personal life influence his rulings.

Commission members to sit on the disciplinary case are Chairman Doug Jones of Lake Tahoe, Mary Lau of Dayton. District Judge Jerome Polaha of Reno, District Judge Richard Wagner of Lovelock. Wayne Chimarusti of Carson City, and Karl Armstrong and Gary Vause, both of Las Vegas.

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