Family Court judge’s ethics challenged again

Bill Gang

Tuesday, Dec. 15, 1998 | 11:23 a.m.

Family Judge Steve Jones is now facing a second allegation of unethical conduct over thousands of dollars in campaign contributions he accepted from attorneys in a cases before him.

A Wednesday hearing has been set before the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline to decide both matters.

The result could determine whether attorneys can continue to contribute to judicial campaigns and still appear before the judges they support, or whether there are limits.

The latest allegation against Jones allege he accepted over $12,000 in 1996 and 1997 from attorney James Jimmerson and the law firm of Jimmerson, Davis, Santoro & Hansen during Jones' unsuccessful race for Nevada Supreme Court.

At the time, Jimmerson was representing Dr. Paul Stewart in a contentious child custody case. While the parents had shared custody of their two children, Jones eventually gave primary custody to the doctor.

It is not the acceptance of the money that is alleged to have been improper, but Jones' failure to disclose the contributions to the opposing side in an effort to avoid the appearance of impropriety. Judges, in general, are required under ethical rules to avoid the appearance of favoritism or conflict.

In the earlier case, Jones is alleged to have similarly violated ethical rules by ruling in a divorce case after receiving $20,000 in campaign contributions from two attorneys connected to it.

Jones does not dispute receiving the contributions from lawyers and reported them on his required financial disclosure forms.

Such contributions generally have been allowed under state and federal laws without requiring judges to step aside when those lawyers have cases before the judges they support.

Wednesday's hearing will be held at the federal courthouse, 300 Las Vegas Blvd. South.