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June 10, 2006
Corruption In Nevada Judiciary

The Los Angeles Times has a blockbuster report this morning on a judicial system in Nevada that has allowed corruption into the state's justice system, an embarrassment that has benefited organized crime, casinos, and the judges themselves. By allowing a classification for jurists as "senior judges" to escape rules of accountability, the predictable outcomes have occurred:

One Nevada judge was nearly indicted on blackmail charges. Another ruled repeatedly for a casino corporation in which he held more than 10,000 shares. Still another overruled state authorities and decided in favor of a gambling boss who was notorious as a mob frontman, and whose casino did the judge a $2,800 favor.

Yet the Nevada Supreme Court has conferred upon these judges a special distinction that exempts them from some of the common rules of judicial practice and reduces their accountability. They are among 17 state judges whom the high court has commissioned as senior judges.

Unlike regular judges, senior judges are not answerable to the voters, but serve at the pleasure of the high court, and that can mean for life. Unlike regular judges, they can reject assignments until they are given a case they want to try. Unlike regular judges, they cannot be removed from a case by peremptory challenge. And until last year, they did not have to disclose their financial interests.

With this exceptional flexibility, they could try lawsuits in which they had a personal stake without revealing it. And because they cannot be removed by peremptory challenge, which normally permits a one-time replacement of a judge at the beginning of any case simply for the asking, it is possible for litigants to be stuck with senior judges, their conflicts of interest and their decisions.

Read the whole atrticle. Remember that whan accountability gets removed from any system, it allows for the corruption that inevitably follows.

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Posted by Ed Morrissey at June 10, 2006 9:17 AM

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Do as Cap’n Ed says… “Read the whole article. Remember that whan accountability gets removed from any system, it allows for the corruption that inevitably follows.” OHIO REPUBLICAN BOSS PUSHES THE ANTI-GAY AGENDA BY DAY, SU... [Read More]

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» Around The Sphere June 12, 2006 from The Moderate Voice
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» Around The Sphere June 12, 2006 from The Moderate Voice
Our periodic linkfest to introduce readers to a WIDE VARIETY of views from all over the 'Sphere. We do NOT restrict mentioned links to one viewpoint — ... [Read More]

Tracked on June 11, 2006 10:49 PM

» Around The Sphere June 12, 2006 from The Moderate Voice
Our periodic linkfest to introduce readers to a WIDE VARIETY of views from all over the 'Sphere. We do NOT restrict mentioned links to one viewpoint — ... [Read More]

Tracked on June 11, 2006 10:51 PM

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