Court won't halt hearing on Vegas judge

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Las Vegas Wednesday rejected an attempt to halt the disciplinary hearing against a Nevada judge accused of misconduct.

The ruling means that the Judicial Discipline Commission's hearing on District Judge Elizabeth Halverson will continue, KLAS-TV, Las Vegas, reported.

Halverson, who has been under suspension, is alleged to have mistreated her staff, failed to adequately conduct trials and even fell asleep on the bench.

She had filed a civil rights complaint against the commission and its special prosecutor on grounds that alleged the commission was withholding materials she needed for her defense.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal said Halverson publicly addressed the allegations against her in a tirade at Tuesday's federal court hearing. The newspaper said she contended the charges were the result of bad blood between her and Chief Judge Kathy Hardcastle.

"This is a bunch of hype," she said. "I have the absolute right to be acquitted of these charges."

Halverson was a former law clerk of Hardcastle and had earlier run for a seat on the Family Court bench against Hardcastle's husband.