I think judges have way too much power in this country . Some are very good and do the job they’re supposed to do , but others try to take advantage of their position . It’s getting to the point, that we need surveilance cameras in public offices to keep public officials honest and above board . One wonders how someone like this even gets elected .

Why would a person who can’t control her own weight to the point of becoming morbidly obesity even be elected to hold office? Obviously the woman is in control of nothing in her personal life, so she’s taking it out on those who are weaker, work-wise, than she. People this obese are incapable of seeing themselves as they really are…lazy, self-indulgent and unable to take responsibility for their own well-being. I’ll bet you she uses her “illness” as an excuse for her behavior, assuming she even believes her behavior was unacceptable, which I doubt.

she shouldn;t be in a court room she belongs in a hospital to get her weight down and gert her health back in order

How this woman got to be a judge is inconceivable. She is not only incapacitated physically but emotionally. How can she be an effective judge when she has so much emotional personal baggage? Any rulings that she makes, in my opinion, are colored by her personal problems and cannot be fair and impartial. One doesn’t have to be a psychiatrist or psychologist to look at her, watch her behavior, and hear what the “bailiff” has said to know that she should be removed. Can you imagine how she treats her husband (and children if she has any and her mother?) Her obesity is self-inflicted and is a cover for her emotional problems. Given a position of power is her “get even” for anyone who crosses her path.

Could someone please explain to me WHY, if a panel declared Halverson a threat to justice, she’s been suspended *with pay* for the past thirteen months? Seriously.

Much easier to pay her retroactively IF she’s reinstated than to try to collect it back from her if she’s removed from the bench.

In my view, this isn’t like a police officer or a teacher, nurse, etc. who is simply “under investigation” and might, therefore, be entitled to be suspended with pay–pending investigatory results. This is a woman who has **already been found** to pose ““a substantial threat of serious harm to the public or to the administration of justice.”

She sits home, doing nothing for over a year. Yet she still receives her salary, courtesy of the taxpayers. What am I missing???

She doesn’t need a Baliff! She needs a nurse’s aide. She does not seem healthy enough to be a Judge.

I have never heard of regulations requiring judges to be fit and healthy. In fact, it would be unconstitutional to require such. There may be something uncomfortable about her appearance, but not so as to dis-qualify her from being a judge.

I am so glad this is being nationally covered. Just like the medical community here in Las Vegas is being explosed so must the legal community. (Dr. Dipak Desai is only one of hundreds of egotistical, money hungry, power mongers in his field as well as the field of law)Just like many doctors and attorneys together are under investigation for racking up fees, performing unnecessary surgeries, amongst just a few items of concern, Judge Halverson’s actions are just another drop in the bucket. Las Vegas is riddled with corruption and unfair practices with their employees. I have worked at law offices in Las Vegas for many many years. Humanity is not important here, money making is and the result of that is that employees and society suffer the consequences of such horrible easy to hide actions of many. I seen this type of treatment to employees in many arenas of the legal field. This state has a no cause clause meaning they can fire you for any reason they want, as they don’t have to give you a reason at all. Therefore, if you don’t suck it up and do what they say, no matter how wrong it is, obviously your job is on the line and how easy it is to take it away. Just try saying no. I know exactly how this baliff felt, just like I know how Desai’s nurses and other staff felt putting up with improper orders and demeaning egotism. If you work in a county or state position, then there are a few more rules your direct employer would have to follow. Then again, in that case, all they have to do then is make you so uncomfortable with harrassment, which is hard to prove, and ultimately you will be forced to quit. I am not saying everyone is like this, but I am saying the majority is. People don’t matter here… money does. I hope CNN, TruTV, MSN and everyone continue reporting the news in Las Vegas. The world needs to know, and then, maybe some laws can be changed to protect the people just like people working in other states are protected. The same goes for the medical crimes reported here. I hope you all just keep on bringing to the forefront.

Sharri…you’re missing the point. Her obesity is a reflection of her emotional instability, not simply a health issue. If, as I and others have pointed out, she can’t control her own body, how can she possibly effectively control her courtroom? How would YOU like someone like her, an obviously angry and physically impaired woman, making decisions about YOUR life and future?

I think that it’s amazing how vicious and obviously biased everyone here (with the exception of Sharri) who has posted a comment is regarding Judge Halvorsen’s weight.

Yes, I agree she is morbidly obese. She certainly does need medical intervention. However, none of us know WHY she is so obese. Too often, people simply assume that someone who is overweight, especially to the extreme that Halvorsen is, is just lazy, stupid, self-indulgent, irresponsible, and out of control. Perhaps she has a thyroid condition or another medical issue that exacerbates the weight problem. Speaking as a family member of two obese persons, both of whom certainly do not try to be obese or revel in it, I just wanted to make that point.

That being said, the fact that she is overweight, no matter what the reason, is not the issue here. The issue is that she is a vindictive, rude, callous, crass, angry and horrible person, who has abused her authority in too many ways to count, and certainly deserves to be removed from the bench permanently if she is found guilty….and it appears that there’s a good chance she will be.

I, too, wonder why on earth, if she was already found to be unfit for the position last July, she was suspended WITH pay. Outrageous.

As a middle management professional working in a medical software firm, I am also person who happens to use a wheelchair due to a birth defect. I am outraged at Ms. Halverson’s behaivor by attempting to use the “disability card” in these proceedings. A person, disabled or not, must perform the job requirements set forth for them to get the job and to stay in that job. I am sure that rubbing feet, the massaging, warming up her food, changing her shoes, etc. is not part of her subordinate’s job description. Such request should never be asked in the workplace by anyone. Ms. Halverson is attempting to cloud the issue by using the “disability card” in hopes she will be cleared by the Commission. I hope that the Commission is knowledgeable enough to listen and judge only the core unlawful facts and issues in the complaint. Halverson is hurting future employees that are highly qualified to perform their job functions who just happen to be disabled! My recommendation Ms. Halverson- GET A NURSE MAID!!

It is inappropriate for the judge to have the bailiff provide personal services for her. If she really needs such assistance, she should have found a way to hire an assistant for the personal care and not use government money for it.

How DARE she compare herself to Stephen Hawking?? His condition is an act of God–hers is an act of the will. Her behavior in the hearing thus far makes very credible the claims made against her.

How in the world did she get elected to start with???

well, and to add to the continuing saga of the good judge, now her hubby has tried to kill her expansive rear and is sitting in lockup.
the way I see it, whatever she did to her staff, was also applied times ten to her husband and since she has been suspended and has lost the attempt at the primary for re-election, she no doubt became unbearable. while I dont go along with what he did, I can see why.