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District Court Dept. 1 (Judge Kenneth Cory) will be relocating Monday (July 3) to its new chambers on Level 16 of the Regional Justice Center, Courtroom 16A.

Senior Judge Charles McGee dissolved the Temporary Protective Order in the case and did not extend it. Speaking to Amy McNair, Judge McGee said, “You are a clear, tragic victim of domestic violence, but counsel has not provided evidence that Judge Jones is the perpetrator.”

In making his ruling Judge McGee did admonish Judge Jones and Ms. McNair not to contact each other in the future without court approval.

This hearing will take place at 9 a.m. Friday (June 30) in the Senior Judge Courtroom located at 330 S. Third Street, Suite 1120. Senior Judge Charles McGee from Reno will consider an extension of an emergency temporary protective order granted June 21.

This hearing has been rescheduled for June 30, 2006 at 9 a.m. in the Senior Judge Courtroom located at 330 S. Third Street, Suite 1120. Judge J. Charles Thompson will consider an extension of an emergency temporary protective order granted June 21.

Judge Thompson has decided no cameras will be allowed inside the courtroom for this hearing. Reporters may attend, however, temporary protective order hearings may be closed to the public upon request of either party to the action.

Justice Court Dept. 9, Judge Joe Bonaventure, is moving from the first floor (Courtroom 1B) to Courtroom 6A in the Regional Justice Center. Judge Bonaventure will begin hearing cases in Courtroom 6A, Monday, June 26, 2006.

Judge William Voy adjudicated the minor a delinquent and sentenced him to 30 days in the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center followed by probation of 24 months.

Judge Gerald Hardcastle issued a decision this afternoon (June 22) in the matter of the parental rights of Tamara Bergeron. The State of Nevada sought to terminate Bergeron’s parental rights and severe her from her daughter Brittney. Judge Hardcastle denied the state’s request to terminate parental rights.

In an excerpt from the ruling, Hardcastle states:

The reunification process has been ended by TAMARA’s incarceration. BRITTNEY will not be physically reunified with her mother during her minority. To the degree that BRITTNEY is concerned about being returned to her mother’s care and living the life she knew prior to January 2003, that concern is satisfied. BRITTNEY will not be physically reunified with her mother.

But is it in BRITTNEY’s best interests to terminate TAMARA’s parental rights? The Department case manager says that it is not. This Court believes that it is not. BRITTNEY’s best interests are served by allowing TAMARA and BRITTNEY to continue to have a parent-child relationship, even if that relationship is other than traditional.

BRITTNEY’s love for her mother is so substantial that loss of that relationship would be detrimental to BRITTNEY. BRITTNEY’s desires for stability and safety have been assured. Her desire for a continuing relationship with her mother can be assured by denial of this Petition. It is simply not in her best interest to remove her mother from her life.

The hope is that free of the influence of the notoriety of this case, BRITTNEY and TAMARA will have a future relationship mutually agreeable to both. BRITTNEY also has the great benefit of having a truly unique foster family. Both TAMARA and the foster family love BRITTNEY. Both can be important in her life. There is no reason to choose one over the other. There is certainly no reason to exclude one over the other.

Since the mother’s rights are not terminated, there is no interest in terminating the father’s parental rights at this point.

Accordingly, the Petition is DENIED. This Decision shall constitute Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law as well as the final Judgment in this matter.

This decision comes as a result of a trial held in Dept. D of the Family Court before Judge Gerald Hardcastle which concluded on June 16, 2006.

Court Executive Officer Charles J. Short issued the following statement today (June 21) regarding Presiding Judge Steven E. Jones:

“The District Court received an emergency application for a temporary protective order involving Judge Steven Jones. Because the application involves the Presiding Judge and a temporary employee of the Family Court, and to avoid the appearance of impropriety and potential conflict, the matter has been assigned to Senior Judge J. Charles Thompson.

Judge Thompson issued the temporary protective order this morning and scheduled a hearing at 9 a.m., June 26, in the Senior Judge Courtroom located at 330 S. Third Street, Suite 1120, to consider an extension of the emergency temporary protective order.

Until resolution of this matter, domestic violence cases currently assigned to Judge Jones will be reassigned to another Family Court Judge.”

Justice of the Peace Karen Bennett-Haron scheduled a preliminary hearing for 9 a.m. on July 5, 2006 for County Recorder Francis Deane. Deane has been charged by the Clark County District Attorney with 19 counts alleging misconduct of a public officer, fradulant appropriation of property, theft, offering false instrument for filing of record, and unlawful commissions, personal profit and compensation of public officers.

Clark County Recorder Francis Deane surrendered to the Clark County Detention Center this afternoon prior to making an appearance in the Las Vegas Township Justice Court’s Dept. 7 at 8 a.m. Friday (June 16) morning. She posted bail and was fingerprinted and photographed. Deane was required to surrender prior to making her Friday morning appearance before Judge Karen Bennett-Haron. Deane posted a bond through a local bail bondsman. Judge Bennett-Haron set bail at $20,000 on June 13, 2006.

Deane has been charged by the Clark County District Attorney with 19 counts alleging misconduct of a public officer, fradulant appropriation of property, theft, offering false instrument for filing of record, and unlawful commissions, personal profit and compensation of public officers.