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November 14, 2009

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Mayor’s jury service short-lived

Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004 | 10:58 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman went to do his civic duty Wednesday, heading to the Clark County Courthouse for jury duty.

But the experience was short-lived: The concealed weapon case was plea-bargained, Goodman said.

The mayor took credit for the quick resolution of the case.

"I understand the defendant heard I was in the courthouse and was going to sit on his jury," the mayor joked.

Goodman said it was his first time inside the courthouse in five years.

"It was like old home week and the juices started to flow," Goodman said. "You should have been there. It was like Ted Williams returning to Fenway."

It also was his first time on jury duty because "up until a couple years ago, lawyers were precluded from serving," he said.

Goodman said he was present from about 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. He didn't get paid.

"This is a freebie," he said. "If you make it past the first day you get $40 a day."

Goodman said his next opportunity to serve will be in 18 months.

"It was a great experience. Everybody was acting like I should have avoided it, but I wanted to do my duty," he said.

As for whether the taste of the courthouse whetted his appetite enough to take up his law practice, Goodman said: "Right now I love being mayor. The judge sent me back to City Hall and said 'Get to work.' "

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