Cleanup deal is in works

Embattled District Judge Elizabeth Halverson soon will allow Clark County officials to inspect her trash-strewn yard while working on finishing a cleanup, attorneys involved in the case said Friday.

The county had set that day as a deadline for Halverson to agree to allow an inspection of her 4173 Oxnard Circle property, which has been the subject of a nuisance abatement case since last year.

"I've spoken with her attorney (William Gamage) a couple of times. They've agreed to let us onto the property," said Steven Sweikart, a deputy district attorney handling the case. "And they want to enter into an agreement to have her schedule a voluntary abatement of the property."

It's expected both the inspection and an agreement will take place sometime in the next two weeks.

"It's just a question of getting it scheduled and putting together a plan that's amenable for the judge and amenable for the county," Gamage said. "My hope is this will be done very quickly."

The county has alleged her yard has been strewn with trash and overgrown weeds, and that her pool has been at risk of mosquito infestation.

"It will probably be a couple of months" before the cleanup is finished, depending on what agreement is reached with Halverson, Sweikart said.

Gamage said much of the refuse is related to her use of a motorized wheelchair and oxygen tanks. "I'm sure once we get done with the county, they're going to understand," he said. "We're going to work it out."

Halverson's fight with the county parallels a spat she's having with Chief Judge Kathy Hardcastle, who recently stripped Halverson of many of her judicial duties because of her "seemingly volatile, angry, paranoid and bizarre behavior toward staff," Hardcastle said in a court filing.

Halverson is contesting the action and allegations.