LaPorta fined, barred from holding judge job

Tuesday, July 6, 2004 | 8:52 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- The state Commission on Judicial Discipline has levied a $10,000 fine against Peter LaPorta, a former Henderson pro tem judge, and said he is barred from ever holding a judicial office in Nevada.

The commission said last week that LaPorta showed a "blatant disregard for the canons of judicial ethics." It said LaPorta "willfully and fraudulently took money while serving as a pro tem judge while wearing judicial robes at a judicial facility and he failed to pay parking tickets to the city of Las Vegas while serving as a pro tem judge."

LaPorta failed to answer two complaints filed against him by the commission. One alleged he has more than $8,000 in unpaid parking tickets. The other accuses him of misappropriating $24,000 from a client.

Since LaPorta did not answer either complaint, the commission said the allegations are deemed to be true and also said he was subject to disciplinary action. LaPorta could not be reached for comment.

After LaPorta decided to put his license to practice law on inactive status in 2002, he continued to preside over cases in the courts in Henderson.

The fine must be paid within six months to the Clark County Law Library.