A nuisance no more

The public nuisance case against District Judge Elizabeth Halverson and her cluttered yard has been closed by Clark County Code Enforcement.

Halverson's property passed a walk-through inspection conducted Wednesday. Everything was found to be in compliance, said Clark County Chief of Code Enforcement Joe Boteilho.

"We're all done on our part," Boteilho said.

Halverson's yard became an issue when the county's Public Response Office received an anonymous complaint in November.

An inspector dispatched to the property near U.S. Highway 95 and Tropicana Avenue found the property littered with junk and debris, including an old golf cart, a trailer that blocked the sidewalk and campaign signs stacked on the lawn.

After a second inspection found that little had changed at 4173 Oxnard Circle, Halverson notified the county that she was appealing the finding that her yard was a public nuisance.

Halverson, who could not be reached for this story, said in a January letter faxed to the county that the designation was vague and violated her First Amendment right to political free speech. Halverson, who uses a wheelchair, also said earlier this year that she was unable to move the offending items herself because of her limited mobility.

Halverson's attorney, William Gamage, said the judge plans to do her best to adhere to the community standard in future. This was the third case that the Public Response Office has had with Halverson's property, which was purchased in 1997.

"She's extremely glad it's behind her," Gamage said. "The whole thing was an unfortunate circumstance all the way around."

In July, Halverson entered into a memorandum of understanding with Clark County Code Enforcement that outlined the problem areas she needed to address. The terms of the agreement included:

• Remove all solid waste, such as furniture, parts, inoperable automobiles, debris from vegetation, oxygen tanks, scrap metal and concrete blocks.

• Remove or properly store any materials considered salvageable.

• Remove tent structures from the driveway.

• Maintain the pool in clean and orderly condition.

Halverson was elected to fill a newly created judgeship in 2006. Her time on the bench has been brief and controversial. In July, she was suspended with pay after the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline found she posed a substantial threat to the public and the administration of justice.

Halverson has taken her case to the Nevada Supreme Court, asking justices to overturn her suspension because, she argues, it is unconstitutional.

Contact reporter Lisa Kim Bach at lbach@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0287.