State publicly reprimands judge

Friday, Sept. 19, 2003 | 9:22 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state Judicial Discipline Commission on Thursday issued a public reprimand to a Douglas County justice of the peace for "impatience and intemperance" in his handling of a criminal case involving the son of a former justice of the Nevada Supreme Court.

The commission found that Justice of the Peace Jim EnEarl did not allow Joseph Manoukian to have his attorney present at a hearing when Manoukian was sentenced to jail and had his probation revoked.

The commission said Manoukian's attorney, Michael Roeser, should have been notified of the allegations and the hearing.

The 27-year-old Manoukian, son of former Supreme Court Justice Noel Manoukian, pleaded guilty in 2001 to misdemeanor charges involving drug use and bad checks. He was placed in an alternative sentencing program and ordered to get a job and make restitution.

When he didn't get employment, he was ordered back to court and EnEarl, known for his stern treatment of some offenders, revoked the probation and sent him to jail. Manoukian hanged himself five days later in the jail.

John Springgate, attorney for EnEarl, could not be reached for comment. Mary Boetsch, special prosecutor in the case, told the commission at its hearing Sept. 3 that EnEarl showed a "personal animus" towards Manoukian and made disparaging remarks about him.