Former Nevada judge, ousted in rare judicial disciplinary spectacle in 2008, dead in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS — A former Nevada state court judge whose courtroom misconduct, disciplinary suspension, domestic turmoil and eventual removal from the bench in November 2008 became a rare public spectacle has died in Las Vegas at age 56.

Elizabeth LaMacchia, who was Elizabeth Halverson when she was elected and sworn in to a newly created judicial post in January 2007, died March 1, according to a Southern Nevada Health District death certificate. District spokeswoman Jennifer Sizemore said she could release no other information.

Attempts to reach LaMacchia's relatives Friday in San Francisco and Oakland, California, were unsuccessful.

As a Clark County District Court judge, Halverson served fewer than five turmoil-filled months before she was suspended with her $130,000-per-year salary. Eighteen more months of accusations and public hearings followed before she was removed from her elected position by the state Commission on Judicial Discipline and banned from ever serving again as a judge. By then, she had filed for re-election.

Halverson, who once served as a law clerk for the chief judge with whom she later clashed, blamed the allegations against her on vindictive colleagues and disgruntled staff. She told the commission that she didn't feel safe in the courthouse.

She was accused of falling asleep during proceedings, tainting juries resulting in at least two mistrials, treating staff members like personal servants and making false statements.

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Former Nevada judge ousted in rare judicial disciplinary spectacle in 2008 dead in Las Vegas