Senior District Court Judge J. Charles Thompson decided today that the preliminary hearing for Darren Mack will proceed as planned tomorrow in the Reno Justice Court.
This morning in Clark County’s Eighth Judicial District Court Senior Judge Courtroom, Judge Thompson presided over a request by Mack’s attorneys to stay the preliminary hearing based on an implied or actual bias on the part of judges in Washoe County. In addition, the defense requested that Judge Thompson disqualify the Justice Court and District Court Judges in Washoe County due to the nature of the case and the intense media scrutiny.
Judge Thompson denied the request ruling no evidence exists to show that the Justice of the Peace is unable to serve as an unbiased judge to determine if the case should be bound over to the District Court. He also refused to rule on disqualification of the District Court judges citing that the case had not been moved to the District Court, so therefore, no implied or actual bias could be shown at this time.
Judge Thompson did indicate he was willing to consider disqualifying Washoe County’s District Court Judges if the case is bound over to the District Court for trial. The preliminary hearing will proceed as planned tomorrow (Aug. 30) in Reno Justice Court.