Moapa justice of the peace killed in fire at her home

Kim Smith

Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002 | 10:48 a.m.

Longtime Moapa Justice of the Peace Marley Robinson was killed early this morning in a fire at her home.

Although Clark County Fire Department officials would not disclose the identity of the person killed in the 2 a.m. fire, Clark County courthouse sources confirmed Robinson lost her life.

Volunteer firefighters were called to a fifth-wheel travel trailer that was engulfed in flames near Greasewood and Cactus roads early this morning, fire department spokesman Bob Leinbach said.

As of 9 a.m. investigators for the coroner's office, Metro Police homicide and fire department were still on scene, Leinbach said. Homicide detectives are typically called to fatal fires.

Robinson, a widow who is survived by three children and an unknown number of grandchildren, was remembered this morning as a well-loved judge and person.

When she wasn't on the bench in Moapa, 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas, she often filled in for judges in the city.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Jennifer Togliatti said Robinson volunteered to work for her on Christmas Day because she knew Togliatti had a 6-month-old baby.

"We're all just shocked and saddened," Togliatti said.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace James Bixler knew Robinson since before she became a judge in 1973.

"She was a wonderful person, a work of art, one of a kind," Bixler said. "She was a cowgirl. She punched cows, rode horses and ran a ranch. She was the hardest working person I knew."

Clark County District Attorney Stewart Bell said the fact that Robinson didn't have a law degree didn't prevent anyone from admiring her work on the bench.

"She was a very good judge and an even better person," Bell said. "She was always a joy to be around. Even though she wasn't a lawyer, she had a terrific sense of fairness. You knew that she would call upon that quality to fairly solve any issue, including complex legal issues."

Togliatti said everyone was expecting Robinson to attend this week's Nevada Judges Association Conference, and those who heard about her death this morning were distraught.

Marlene VanBeveren, a court clerk for Moapa Valley Justice of the Peace Lanny Waite, said the entire community is devastated.

"Everyone in the community loved her," VanBeveren said. "She was a lady who was very involved in her community."