Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Courts:

Nevada Supreme Courts grants delay of disciplinary hearing for judge involved with attorney

The Nevada Supreme Court today temporarily stopped the state Judicial Commission from starting its hearing Monday on a complaint against Clark District Judge Steven Jones, accused of improper conduct with a female deputy district attorney.

The court granted a motion for a temporary stay sought by Jones to challenge the complaint by the Judicial Commission.

Jones, through his lawyer Jim Jimmerson, said the disciplinary body has failed to follow the rules in its complaint that the judge presided over cases in which his girlfriend, Deputy District Attorney Lisa Willardson, was involved in child abuse and neglect issues.

In the petition to the Supreme Court, Jimmerson said the Judicial Commission has failed to rule on the motion to dismiss the case. Jimmerson also said the commission did not turn over interrogatories needed to prepare the defense.

The Supreme Court said Jones “has set forth issues of arguable merit and that he may have no plain, speedy and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law.”

It said the temporary stay would remain in effect until Aug. 2. It ordered the commission to file a response by 4 p.m. Monday. The commission must answer the allegations that it did not comply with the law in preparing the complaint, failed to identify all witnesses interviewed during the investigation and faied to turn over evidence to Jones.

Jones then has until July 31 to file a reply to the commission’s answer. The judge also must explain why he waited until right before the disciplinary hearing to file his petition.

Jones also faces a federal indictment that he was involved in a $3 million investment fraud scheme. He has pleaded innocent to the charge.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy