Young jurist in spotlight

The justice of the peace in front of O.J. Simpson -- and all the media covering the case -- Wednesday was the Regional Justice Center's youngest full-time judge.

At 28, Joe Bonaventure was elected to the bench in 2004, just two years out of law school. His name helped him win. His father, Joseph Bonaventure, was a district court judge for nearly 30 years before retiring this year.

Since his election, the younger Bonaventure has earned a reputation at the courthouse as a fair jurist, and attorneys have said he takes his job seriously.

Maybe he still has a little fun, however. One local attorney said he saw a pinball machine in his chambers. And he has a pony tail.

Bonaventure, a Bishop Gorman alumnus, graduated from the inaugural law school class at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

He served as clerk for District Judge Kathy Hardcastle and briefly as a deputy with the Clark County district attorney's office.

He then worked at a private practice before running for office.

If prosecutors in Simpson's case don't take the case to a grand jury, Bonaventure will have the opportunity to preside over the preliminary hearing, during which the state will present the fundamental aspects of the case.

Bonaventure then would have to decide whether the evidence is sufficient for Simpson to face those charges in district court.