Due Process for Judge Halverson?
America's favorite plus-size jurist, Judge Elizabeth Halverson, is back in the news. The disciplinary hearing to remove her from the bench -- figuratively, not literally -- got underway today.
Earlier this afternoon, from a Halverson-following reader:
CNN.com has live video stream of the Judge Halverson trial/hearing. I just started listening to it, so there hasn't been anything real juicy yet. The first issue was Judge Halverson's ability to use the restroom and the adequacy of the facilities at the hearing location.
And an update:
[So far] nothing that is new news. Her bailiff has been testifying about all the things he had to do for her. They are on a lunch breach until 4 PM Eastern time.
Ah, Judge Halverson's lunch break. Expect the proceedings to resume around.... 8 PM?
In defense of Judge Halverson, is she getting a fair shake from the State Commission on Judicial Discipline? From the AP:
Nevada's state judicial disciplinary panel is being asked to ban a suspended judge from calling witnesses or introducing evidence during hearings next week that could strip her of her elected position.
Insert Guantanamo joke here.
Panel Asked to Limit Judge Halverson's Defense in Hearings [Las Vegas Now]
Panel asked to limit judge's defense in hearings [AP]
(292) Comments
First.
Lemme get uh,10,000 chicken fuh-gitas.
You guys want anything?
enough already! please
How can she defend herself without calling witnesses or introducing evidence?
agree with 3 - definitely enough of this story. it was sort of interesting at first, but this obnoxioius over-coverage is such turn off
dude, the bar needs a health test. thats just sick
A lunch break until 4:00? This is too easy.
"ability to use the restroom . . ."
poop in a hat?
3:54 -
"State Commission on Judicial Discipline hearings begin Monday in Las Vegas. But Holmes says Halverson hasn't specified witnesses she intends to call, provided advance materials, or submitted to a health evaluation by a Reno-based psychiatrist picked by the commission.
The panel on July 2 required the exam if Halverson planned to raise disability or medical issues in her defense."
4:02 - They are in Vegas. 4:00 ET = 1 Pacific
(AP) Las Vegas - District court chief judge Elizabeth Halverson died earlier today during a court room proceeding to remove her from the bench, literally. Judge Halversons Rascal wheelchair (4 volt model) became lodged in the courtroom bench cutting off her air cable and leading to her eventual asphyxiation. The coroners office will need to confirm specific details, but courtroom observers say they saw her "binging on Barbecue Fritos, Vienna sausages, and Juji Fruits," and "filling her face with Hot Pockets, Twizzlers, and Twinkies" before driving up to the bench. Upon parking her Rascal, she continued to binge. At some point it appears she choked off her oxygen cable and began to struggle.
Unable to unwedge her trunk-like thighs from the bench, courtroom staff were unable to remove the oxygen line blockage. Judge Halverson was declared dead upon arrival of the paramedics.
...this is fake....
"Frat Stud" (For William N.)
Morbidly obese judges were denied due process in my high school all the time, it was no big deal.
Guys in boarding school used to eat their way into motorized wheelchairs all the time, it was no big deal.
Link for the CNN live audio feed plz?
We can not provide a link at this time because Judge Halverson has eaten the audio feed.
http://www.cnn.com/video/live/live.html?stream=stream2
This guys is no good at cross.
http://www.cnn.com/video/live/live.html?stream=stream2
This guy is no good at cross.
http://www.cnn.com/video/live/live.html?stream=stream2
This guy is no good at cross.
I like to think that she is steering the fat person scooter with one hand because using two takes too much effort.
In searching for the live CNN video feed of the Halverson hearing I came across this CNN video, entitled: Woman Mistaken for Bear, Shot”.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/08/03/moreno.wa.woman.shot.komo
Certainly this is not the referenced CNN video?
Holy shit.
I was very disappointed in the comments to this post, until I read number 11.
Now, I can't stop laughing.
Jonnie Jordan is dumb as a post.
Here's a Gitmo joke:
If they sent Judge Halverson to Guantanamo, Cuba would sink.
Does anyone know the lame ass in the 3-piece suit who is trying to cross Jordan?
He is in a close contest with the witness for dumb.
Wow, nice impeachment. PSYCH!
24 - for real, who is this guy?
Halverson has gained another 100 pounds since the Nev. Sup. Ct. hg.
Her arms are bigger than my torso.
Halverson appears comatose, and apparently has a chair that is reclining better than a Brittish Airways flat bed.
I can't tell if the witness is intentionally being difficult or if he is just plain dumb.
3-piece is asking if picking up papers on floor was not your job, whose job was it?
Jordan says he cannot answer, because it wast not just a piece of paper. It was papers + sunflower seeds.
3-piece is asking if picking up papers on floor was not your job, whose job was it?
Jordan says he cannot answer, because it wast not just a piece of paper. It was papers + sunflower seeds.
That was awesome--Halverson's attorney asked the guy (Jordan, I think) how many times he drove Halverson to a banquet. He responded, "Six or seven, I think." Halverson's attorney asked, "There must have been a lot of eating in that courtroom," and the guy shoots back, "Apparently." Classic!
Bring me Solo and the Wookie! They will all suffer for this outrage!
Honestly, this woman has serious mental problems. She was likely abused as a child. I feel bad for her, but the fact is, a lot of people were abused as a child and they don't turn out to be raving obese psychos.
Halverson is sporting a new hena shorter do, almost looks hot-----except for the 700 pound body.
That witness has got sum 'TUDE!!!!
Found it demeaning to put covers on Halverson at nap time because she was a plus size woman, and there were women there to do that.....in addition, as a plus size woman, her shirt would raise up (YIKES) and she could have asked the women staff to attend to her.
10 minute recess.
Another awesome moment--when the guy conducting the hearing calls for a 10-minute break, you can hear Halverson's Rascal start beeping as it's backing up, like a moving truck...
28: No, Jordan is D-U-M-B. REALLLLY DUMB.
Apparently, 3-peice was willing to represent Halversobn for free?
apparently she failed to submit a witness list, so that's why they don't want her to be able to put on any witnesses.
Comissioners filtering back...
37 -
laughing out loud, and the funniest part is, that wasn't a joke!
Yea, but the proffered reason to exclude--that Halverson is turning the hearing into a 'laughing stock" is unclear on the Halverson concept.
OF COURSE we are tuning in for laffs....
"10 minute" toilet break for Halverson into OT.
Halverson may be in some (bathroom) distress).
If she does not emmerge soon, i am calling (Reno) 911.....
Her Fatness is taking an awful LONG time in that BR...
Back to order (finally) dumbshit Jorday back on stand...
Big objection to 3-piece asking Jordan if when he took job he was aware that Halverson was suffering from disabilities…. No exam or discovery…Halverson wants to argue this…
She pled the ADA as a defense? Can you even "plead an affirmative defense" in a review like this (as opposed to in litigation)?
Your Honor,
Take judicial notice of might huge ass
Did I just see bronzed Han Solo on the wall behind her?
Halverson tries to distinguish between auto accident personal injury defendant and a person with a disability…(statutory definition read)…sleeping, eating, major life issues….this commission can distinguish between major life issues…or if treated as such…can produce evidence if you wish that I was treated as such…3d you can take judicial notice that because I am a wheel chair and on OX that I am disabled. [Halverson fumbles through papers for citation]….12012d all have to do as see that… you don’t have to see a doctor’s note or nothing…you cannot come back now and see a doctor’s note.
Huh?....
Blaming court.. hands going every which way…. I am entitled to reasonable accommodations.. ADA does not re quire a doctors note… you have to take into account that I did ask for help…I cannot breathe right, I cannot work right, but it is nobody’s business…I have a right as an American to be involved in the political process… you are subject to the ADA….that’s all there is too it…I asked for this..I asked for that…I don’t have to submit evidence to justify that….
Prosecutor....I have not received any discovery from her as to reliance on a disability....violation of court order...no predicate hear for her to even talk about ADA here...no complaince with court's orders...
Judge Halverson hasn't kept up with her favorite Sesame Street character. Cookie Monster now says cookies are only a "sometimes" food.
http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/videos.jhtml?videoId=174545
Halverson’s come back…no “probable cause” for medical examination…no court appointed attorney…don’t forget that it was an affirmative defense from the beginning…(court) counsel do not speak over me…order made it clear that this should be a problem at some point…July 2 order provided that if she would introduce evidence or argue that she was subject to disability she would submit to medical exam…motion to in liminae grated.. not allowed to go into that issue…cannot be used and that’s my ruling.
3-piece now wants to make a record…
Halverson is recumbent, and her head is sunken into her body….
How do you know whether Halverson was sleeping or “unconscious” answer---because she was SNORING!!!!!
Ha!!!!
I wonder if I can send this Jordan guy a thank-you card when Halverson gets kicked off the bench. Is he a genius? No. He's just an everyman who's making the judge look like the absolute freak she is.
Q: Do you have any medical training?
A: Do you?
>
Halverson's Atty: Do you have medical training?
Witness: Do you? You're not a doctor!
Haha! Nevada = TTT
I'm glad the grandfather from The Princess Bride is still getting work.
Required to remove lint…every day..Yes…did you ever say this is demaning…No..did you find it demeaning to clean the Judge’s robe…yes
Shooting Judge Halverson’s husband…yes..did you shoot him…did you think she was serious..Yes..becuse..she elevated her voice…
Why not go to police…didn’t you think it was important to go to police…in training all I was told to do s please your judge….
this stuff is facsinating
You lied to Judge Halverson about writing a letter to your mother…No..were you writing a letter to your mother…no…can I explain…no
Redirect on Jordan. one question.. on all of your testimony today..did you tell us anything untrue..No.recross with regard th that Q..No..W excused
3-piece requests a brief break…(Halverson) the problem is that my Husband is also my process severer…. and I have a right to serve at any place…
[Commission…witness will not be intimidated…]
I'm going to call the "jury people".
Halverson has proved during these proceedings that she is unfit. She's a joke.
Halverson… am just getting discovery…so I cannot be in more than one place at once…[Commission] you have served every judge in this District..NO…by 9:00 tomorrow morning Halverson must serve witness list and as to Jordan, before Halverson can recall Commission needs an offer of proof…10 minute recess…next Witness Lisa le Sage DDA
Hearing in 10 minute recess… Halverson has been ordered to produce a list of every w she intends to call by 9:00 am tomorrow…
Next W up is Deputy District Attorney Lisa le Sage …
Dinner with jurors…..
Evil Ed is in the house...
I don't see what the problem is. She seems to be very well ROUNDED!! Hahahahaha!
This just in...Clark County court house..Halverson has just eaten the entire hot dog inventory off then courthouse food stand...has started on the fruit pies...children are crying and a woman has fainted at the spectacle….
Hearing about to resume…objection from hot dog cart guy…he has not been paid….must now file chapter 7….this just in….Nevada Governor declares hearing site national disaster…fast food inventory, small dogs, pets disappearing at unprecedented rate….
Hearing back to order….call Lisa Le Sage…
Direct…I am attorney wit Clark county DA—14 years…identifies Halverson..known 10 years… she was a law clerk in crim dept…she was with judge sheriz for some time…could not say how long..but she worked on crim law issues
Appeared for special victims unit before judge Halverson’s court calendar…one experience that concerned me…post conviction issue..motion to reconsider sentence for concurrent…objected to jurisdiction…Halverson said “watch me” then granted motion….
Watch her in criminal law contest….[objection, overruled] did she appear to be knowledgeable in criminal proceedings….[Objections on notice, overruled]….I observed Halverson do things that she was not entitle to do and chose to do them anyway.
Conclusions…not familiar with proper crim pro…what is Blackstone system….computer record of charges and case status….
Every court room equipped with voice activated audio-video system…supposed to be on all the time when court is in session….Jaz system...except for bench conf judge has ability to cause white noise so not recorded....
Like, William Blackstone? Some people know these things...
Dick.
Exhibit 2…..3-piece wants to voir dire on foundation….DDA has HUGE Angela Davis fro, BTW….Halverson fondling controller to her Rascal….clumsy cross about record keeping system…..
Do you know what that person, he or she that she may be, was looking at, when he or she is looking at, when these document were created?
Bafoonery.....
Prosecutor sucks as well, just not as bad....get to the point plz....
Look--who cares wether she know who did the imputting, she WAS THERE...objection on "rule of completeness"????
Trial in Halverson’s courtroom...4 day trial…march 5, 2007 to Thursday the 8th—judge Halverson fell asleep during defense cross, then judge fell asleep, then her body flinched and she woke up.
Anything unusual re Halverson’s contact with Jury…conversation with jury outside presence of counsel…I was in another court Monday morning…frantic phone call…we knew there would be video of the problem so I brought the asst Da with me…I was not present when Halverson met with jury…March 12, afternoon…Halverson showed video….showed she had conversation with jury instead of just releasing them….
Video is accurate….Ex 4….video played…(this is good..)….Halverson laying back in her do me position…video starts with jury filing into the court Fri night, shows jury leaving after discussion with judge…3-piece says he never saw tape…allowed into evidence…(TAPE PLAYED)….(HAR, HAR)…..
Criminal law 101 as taught by judge halverson...When someone gets arrested they go before a judge...that doesn't mean they're guilty...told to a jury that is in the middle of deliberations without either party present during the discussion. How dumb can she be?
I am a former prosecutor who has been on the bench for 11 years, first as a trial judge and then as an appellate court member. This is unreal. Just amazing, shocking and remarkable conduct on the part of the judge.
alverson tense…has no neck….bird’s eye court room view…jury filing in…judge reads admonition…now does the jury have any questions it wants to bring up…(inaudible)…any other questions (inaudible)…I think it says in the instructions that there will be information (inaudible)…so…I think I can give you general examples….if the defendant is charged, the defendant goes to a probable cause hearing to see if there is a scintilla of evidence they are guilty…(inaudible) [Halverson explains procedure prior to trial….can’t hear the tape very well…]… Halverson explains that motions to exclude evidence have been made and you can only hear portions of evidence that are admissible…[even more questions]…how witnesses are treated….I can only answer general questions…if you have specifics…I cannot answer….you can ask the question… but [inaudible]…some of the things are for you to use your discretion….
Clearly, this Q and A is substantive and long….
I can't wait to hear where 3 piece goes in trying to defend this conduct. Is her husband/process server going to be outside the chamber to serve this witness? All these jurors from the video are her john and jane doe jurors that she's calling. Too funny.
Ten minutes later... Qand A still going on…Halverson is explaining how jury instructions are drafted, process of how instructions are proposed, objected to arrived at …..[inaudible] laughter….basically…[inaudible]….more laughter…its fascinating service….on and on and on….what if we cannot reach a verdict…if you can you can, if you can’t you can’t..that is entirely up to you to you…its entirely in your hands…..
Yikes....
More questions…DA not present for this exchange…Halverson lied when she told jury that DA was not there of her own accord…
Was there any evidence in case about Family Court proceedings…yes…there was a concurrent hearing in Family Court…transcripts of family court hearings were read for impeachment…..Q by juror about minor witness being treated same as adult…jury was instructed prior to deliberations on credibility…judge should not have said adult witness should be treated same a adult….
Calling an attorney not an expert because 3 piece claims she doesn't know about a legal topic...
Isn't that the point of minimum competency?
Halverson is sleeping !!!!!!!!!!!
Verdicts…10 counts NG…10 counts no verdict…
Wide shot of Halverson...(OMG)
Safety issue....light fixture ready to fall..don't walk under it...
Clerks note indicating everything in video removed from record…..
Cross-examination by 3-piece…10 minute recess so rest of Halverson jurors video can be shown…
Nice running commentary.
69: "Halverson… am just getting discovery…so I cannot be in more than one place at once…"
Well, actually, she's probably better able to be in several places at once than most of us.
Waiting for 3-peice to set up rest of video--3-piece has had several objections sustained---including that DA was not designated as expert.
By in large, though, defense has not been effective...
Baliff Jonnie Jordan dumb as a post though.....not sure how credible he came across....
BTW, Clark County judicial elections coming up next week [Aug 12] but early voting already underway--Vegas daily Review Journal has endorsed Halverson opponent Jason Landess (who once lost $1 Million at one sitting at the black jack tables, then filed for bk) over Halverson opponent first-term Family Court Judge Stefany Miley, a graduate of the California Western School of Law.
At least Landess graduated “with law review honors from Loyola Law School [and] tried dozens of criminal trials while an assistant district attorney in Orange County”, the RJ argues. (the RJ editorial fails to mention Landess’s efforts to intercede with a Vegas judge 4 years ago on behalf of his crank addicted, car-thief son.)
http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/26171929.html
This just in…Halverson has just raided the burrito wagon, consuming the entire inventory of food items…..hearing resumes….
Further delay….
Chairman picks nose…
Prosecutor drinks H20, throws head back like horse….air read siren(???)…shuffling noises….WTF???...APPLAUSE...
Guy on lift thing fixed dangling light….hearing back to order…3-piece lacks “password” to “get this thing up and running….”this is 3-days later…I object on discover and relevance….on Monday….this shows what happened before and after video was shown…goes to impact on case….
8 ET - Halverston consumed all cameras, CNN feed dies
CNN feed is down…trying to refresh….
Dear God no!!!!
I don't see what all the fuss is about. They'll have her out of drydock as soon as they clean the barnacles off her.
Video is not some kind of Spanish thing….
Does anyone have new CNN link….I cannot reacquire feed…
Voto 2008….WTF
Alert…feed is down…I repeat…feed is down…some Spanish thing about Obama….
This is a very hard story to read. I am still deeply saddened by the fact that Judge Halverson ate my dog one sunny afternoon. It was awful. She even slurped down the leash like it was god damn spaghetti.
Someone call Greenpeace. We need to keep it moist until we can push it back into the ocean.
Feed has switched to pre-recorded Spanish language election coverage....
Just in...unconfirmed rumors that Judge Halverson has exploded in hearing room, killing all present and taking down CNN link...will try to get more info....
Unconfirmed…pieces of…burrito up and down street…not pretty…can anyone in Vegas confirm what is happening….oh the humanity…..
Radio silence from Vegas....
Come in Vegas this is ATL, can you read us? Come in Vegas. OMG. I have a bad feeling about this……
Judge H should just give up on all this and get herself a TV show like Judge Judy.
CNN live Halverson coverage will resume 12:00 p.m. ET - Tue August 05.
The hearing is scheduled to run through Friday.
AP recap of today's events:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/08/04/state/n113816D58.DTL
The article references a new petition that Halverson filed yesterday in the NV Supreme Court to halt the proceedings; no refernece to it on the Court website yet...
http://www.nvsupremecourt.us/highProfile/
She complains about the restroom? Giver her a nearby Kidney shape swimming pool, after draining the water
She complains about the restroom? Giver her a nearby Kidney shape swimming pool, after draining the water
Today's RJ article about yesterday's hearing testimony:
Ex-bailiff breaks down weeping after yelling he'd been robbed of his dignity
http://www.lvrj.com/news/26274549.html
We have a winner: 115
Is that back on today? Anyone have a link to the stream?
http://www.cnn.com/video/live/live.html?stream=stream2
Cheif Judge Kathy Hardcastle is (I tink) still on the stand being crossed.
Feed just went down. Will keep trying.
Mmm . . . Hard(white)castle.
New CNN link:
http://www.cnn.com/video/live/live.html?stream=stream3
Halverson is wearing pink today.
Her "co-counsel" 3-peice is asking Hardcastle if Halverson + the Rascal could fit through the courthouse metal detector.
Halverson has grown since her NV Supreme Court Hg--she's huge. Her large head loks like a softball on that round body....
Ever deliberately thrown things on floor and asked staff to pick them up?
Is rubbing judge’s feet, giving massages part of bailiff’s duties?
No.
Back to cross by 3-piece.
3-piece is a shuddering prick….
Halverson looks kind of out of it.
She's just so....I don't know....fat.
Short recess now…..very short witness next…3-piece made a funny about “short witness”… then 1 hour lunch and back to it.
I wanna know what kind of motor and batteries are used on the cart she drives. Their either very powerful or heavily overworked!
Pink has a slimming effect.
139: The scooter is not battery powered. It's solid state jet fuel ala the space shuttle.
Instead of blasing her 26,000 miles per hour, it can only move that much mass about 2-4 miles per our in short bursts.
Your Honor, I OBJECT ... to Halverson's weight
Dear God, look at this excerpt from the above article:
"[The baliff] also said Halverson asked him to heat her lunch using a microwave that was kept inside a bathroom. Jordan said Halverson ordered him to heat her food immediately after she used the bathroom."
Hearing back on…Halverson is arguing that she cannot be disciplined for failure to cooperate with other judges in violation of “Separation of Powers”, i.e. “Your Not the Boss of me” redux.
Hearing recessed until 1:00 (Pacific time, 4:00 ET).
PS TO 143:
The blaiff cried on the stand as he was recounting his "humuliation".