Las Vegas Judge Erica Ballou is facing a formal ethics lawsuit for posting problematic images and captions on her social media accounts, including a photo of her in a hot tub with a public defender.
The Nevada Judicial Discipline Commission charged Barrow with two violations of the Revised Nevada Code of Judicial Conduct in connection with two social media posts that undermined public confidence in the integrity of the judiciary. prosecuted.
First, in September 2021, “Judge Ballou made inappropriate statements regarding his judicial duties on social media,” the complaint states.
“At 10:46 p.m., Judge Ballou posted on Instagram, “Billie Eilish is less than 30 minutes away and life is still beautiful. Tomorrow’s calendar says 8:30,” the complaint states. be.
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“At 10:46 p.m., Judge Ballou posted on Instagram, ‘Life is still beautiful even though Billie Eilish isn’t even 30 minutes away. Tomorrow I have an 8:30 time on my calendar,'” the lawsuit states. “it is written like this. (Nevada State Judicial Discipline Commission)
The caption also included the hashtag “VacateTheS—tOuttaOutOfCustodyCases.”
The commission said the post violated three norms, including Rule 1 and Rule 2.1, which require judges to act in a manner that “promotes public confidence in the independence, integrity, and impartiality of juries.” He claimed that
Mr. Barrow also violated Rule 2, Rule 2.1 of the Code, which states that the duties of judicial office “supersede all of a judge’s personal and extracurricular activities.” And Canon 3, Rule 3.1 states that a judge must not “participate in any activity that appears to any prudent person to impair the independence, integrity, or impartiality of the judge.”
read the complaint
Then, in April 2022, Judge Ballou posted a photo of himself in a hot tub with two public defenders, Shana Browers and Robson Hauser, saying, “Mr. Robson is surrounded by wonderful people.” He posted it on his Facebook page with the caption, “I’m here.”
The Commission also claimed that the post violated three norms, including Norm 1, Rule 2.1. Rule 2, Rule 2.4 states that a judge must not give the impression that “any person or entity is in a position to influence the judge.” and Canon 3, Rule 3.1.
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In April 2022, Judge Ballou posted on his Facebook page a photo of himself in a bathtub with two public defenders, Shanna Browers and Robson Hauser, saying, “Mr. Robson is a wonderful person.” “surrounded by,” the complaint states. To read. (Nevada State Judicial Discipline Commission)
FOX News Digital reached out to the 8th Judicial District Court and the Clark County Public Defender’s Office.
This is not the first time Ballou has faced public criticism. According to KLAS, in 2022, a year after Vallow became a judge in Clark County, the Las Vegas Police Protective Association issued an order after a judge ordered a black defendant accused of assaulting a police officer to stay away from police. They called for his resignation.
“You are the one making the decision not to leave the police. You are a black American, and you know you don’t want to be in a place where the police are,” Judge Barrow said at the time. “You know I don’t want to be in a place where there’s police, because I know I’m not, and I’m a middle-aged, middle-class black woman, I don’t want to be in a place where there’s police. I don’t know. I don’t even know if I’ll make it home alive.”
Steve Grammas, president of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, appeared on “The Ingraham Angle” in 2022 and shared his thoughts on Vallow’s comments.
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Steve Grammas of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association appeared on “The Ingraham Angle” in 2022 and gave his thoughts on the statement he made to Erica Vallow, accused of assaulting a police officer, to stay away from police. said. (Fox News)
“It’s unfortunate that someone on the Judiciary Committee would bring her own personal bias to a situation where she doesn’t even feel justified in making a comment. She’s been very clear about her feelings toward police, and here she is. This comment infuriated us: “Members, our police officers go out there every day and put our lives at risk…She has to go.” he said.
Grammas added that cases involving police officers as victims may appear on her desk in the future, and that the police association does not believe she can fairly preside over such cases. .
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In a statement at the time, Barrow said he supported “appropriate law enforcement” and added that he would speak to those who came before him in a “straightforward and understandable” manner.
