The ongoing sage of suspended Nevada District Judge Elizabeth Halverson just got stranger. On Thursday night, her husband Edward Halverson, 49, was arrested and charged with attempted murder and battery her with a frying pan. He has a long criminal record. Judge Halverson was known to berate and ridicule her husband in court, referring to him as “Evil Ed.”
The battery counts include both battery with a deadly weapon and battery with substantial bodily harm. Judge Halverson reportedly suffered severe injuries to her face, chest and upper arms, but is expected to survive.
Halverson, 50, has been suspended from the court after bizarre and offensive conduct on the bench, here. She is still receiving her $130,000 judicial salary.
She recently lost her primary bid and is now trying to defend herself from a possible lifetime ban from the bench.
Her husband has a record with at least 10 prior arrests in three states and was convicted of three felonies. He previously served almost four years on those convictions.
For the full story, click here.
I have to admit that I couldn’t stop laughing at this article. I’m sure that she was berating him to no end, so he picked up the frying pan and beat her up. I’m totally shocked that someone with her supposed intelligence, would even marry a guy with his crimanl background, but then again with the type of judge and human being she is, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. She’s nothing but a loser and, I don’t understand why they haven’t kicked her off the bench yet. anyway, maybe now she’ll shut that big fat mouth.
I would say it’s situational. What degree is the relation? What was that nature of the offense? Are they a multiple offender? When was the last offense? Are there supervening circumstances?
That being said, a judge needs to be held to higher standard than the general populace to avoid the appearance of impropriety. Should a judge be removed if her husband is an organized crime figure? You bet. Should they be removed if their mate stole a car for a joyride 20 or 30 years ago but done nothing since? No. Should a judge be removed if married to a convicted pedophile? Possibly (allowing for the fact that there will be some with religious prohibitions on terminating some relationships). Should they be removed if married to a convicted traitor? Without a doubt.
As you can see, there is latitude for reasonableness even when the higher standard is applied to judges.
As for the general public, I can see where it could be an employment issue in certain areas and circumstances. Would a bank want a vault manager married to a convicted bank robber? No. Should the hospital fire a nurse married to a convicted bank robber? No. Should a nurse be allowed to be married to a convicted drug dealer/addict who specialized in black market pharmaceuticals? Conditionally yes – hospital processes should track drugs and perhaps particular attention should be paid to the nurse’s access. If there are no irregularities, employment shouldn’t be an issue. Should the nurse receive higher scrutiny if the conviction had been for marijuana instead? Probably not. Relevance to the job at hand and threat assessment is the issue. Access to courts or arbitration to resolve disputes is a given.
rafflaw,
I can’t agree with you here but don’t know what the law says. Just as people can’t take glory from their ancestors and relatives etc., we can’t have our own worth taken away by ignoble ancestors and evil relatives. Again, I don’t know the law, and you do. My friend’s husband committed a felony. He’s a cruel, heartless bastard whom I wish she would divorce, but I’m glad she didn’t lose a job over it.
Jill
How can a judge be allowed to sit when her spouse is a conviced felon? Wouldn’t that lead to questions as to the appearance of impropriety? Even without her own crazy antics, I would think she would have been booted because of the husband’s record.