CELEBRITY:

Red carpet rolled out of courtroom

Treatment of Michael Jackson’s doctor after appearance before judge opens door for entire new cottage industry

Chris Morris

Friday, Nov. 20, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray avoids jail in child support case (11-16-2009)

Records seized from Las Vegas doctor in Michael Jackson case (7-30-2009)
Feds search Vegas doctor’s office, home in Jackson death probe (7-28-2009)
Michael Jackson dead at 50 (6-25-2009)

Showing an unprecedented level of creative initiative, the bailiffs at Clark County Family Court have launched a new tourism and job creation initiative: VIP justice.

This exciting strategy was unveiled Monday at a hearing to decide whether to toss Michael Jackson’s deathbed doctor in jail for failing to pay 15 grand in child support. Not only did the doctor get to skip jail and forget about the money, but an armed bailiff was so solicitous as to adopt the role of the doctor’s private security guard and keep a dozen or so reporters trapped in the courtroom until the doctor was out of the building and safe from questions.

Since then, it’s been a mess. Reporters, editors and pundits are howling about the First Amendment and even the Fourth, the Family Court is hemming and hawing, the bailiffs have gone mute and for some reason no one can call this what it is: A great way to steal business from California.

Specifically, the headliner crime business.

Just think of it: Every year in the Los Angeles area, celebrities and other newsmakers are arrested, charged and tried, all in a swirl of media coverage and quick-buck merchandising. But there is, alas, a dark side to this industry: The celebrities involved are often treated like criminals and sometimes wind up in jail.

If it isn’t careful, Los Angeles is going to lose its crime business just as it’s losing film production to Canada and Eastern Europe. No doubt agents and defense attorneys are already wondering if they could do better for their clients somewhere else.

And here we have just sent the famous a message: If you have to make a court appearance in Vegas, at least you’ll know you won’t have to worry about the paparazzi. They’ll be corralled in the courtroom at no cost to you, the taxpayers’ valued guests.

The timing is, for us, perfect.

If Las Vegas’ economy gets any worse, we’ll have to rename the city West Detroit. We need a new business, this business. And our pitch is clear: Celebrities, justice doesn’t have to happen to you here.

This is image promotion: The brand, if not the reality, of Las Vegas is about decadence, recklessness and regrettable decisions, and it’s about time we got some celebrity spokesmen. This is jobs: Think of the T-shirt sellers and sidewalk merchants, not to mention all the cameramen, producers, photographers and reporters — and there will have to be twice as many as those, because if some reporters are going to be locked inside the courthouse, you’ll need to hire extra reporters to stand outside and still more reporters whom editors can send to cover the plight of the first group of reporters.

This week was a good start. We showed we can offer basic journalist-containment services and that we’re flexible enough to extend celebrity privileges to even Jacko’s Quacko. In Hollywood terms, it was a very good pitch meeting.

And there are some very natural future services we could offer, like courtroom-adjacent dressing rooms, free massages and, if bail is high and your cash is short, a publicly comped cell at Bellagio. No doubt the Nevada Development Authority can come up with more and devise an advertising campaign.

But we may have to work harder than that. As difficult as it is to admit, Las Vegas has an image problem. It’s so embarrassing to even mention it, but it’s so large and egregious that we have to confront it.

You see, we put OJ in jail. Something like that would never, ever happen in Los Angeles.

Discussion: 10 comments so far…

Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy.

By Planetearthcalling

Nov. 20, 2009

8:14 a.m.

Suggest removal

Try not showing up at the courthouse dressed like a common street thug, or, wearing muscle shirts, cutoffs, and flip flops, you should get in every single time.

A pair of Jeans, shoes and button up shirt for example is more than good enough
By 5r9i

Nov. 20, 2009

8:52 a.m.

Suggest removal

Here we have a " Judge " who just " adjourned " a court hearing, and now you have " an armed bailiff",
who thinks he's above the " law" , and decides that he has the power over " The American
Constitution " !to withhold all the " media people! " , from leaving the courtroom, at freewill ,
as though they committed some type of " Crime! " , the only ! Crime that has occurred here is "kidnap" by the
"Bailiff ! , Isn't that what they used to put " OJ" away ? Then shouldn't the same charge also apply to a
" bailiff ", by all respect to the all the " Journalist ", They Should file a " lawsuit ", against the "judge, and his bailiff, with
" judge, and against his bailiff" with " kidnaping an entire Media of the people !
By JohnDeaux

Nov. 20, 2009

8:55 a.m.

Suggest removal

So why don't any of these reporters file a police report for false imprisonment/kidnapping?

It is outrageous what the bailiff did, and the response of fat face Judge Art Ritchie that nothing wrong was done is astoundingly ignorant. And this piggish man is Chief Judge?

I was in the old courthouse when Judge Walsh's bailiff locked the courthouse door to prevent anyone from entering. A gentle reminder that this is a PUBLIC court room, and that I doubted his Judge would appreciate all the complaints and newspaper stories sure to come about how her inept bailiff was treating the court room as his personal man cave caused him to keep the door open.

This reminds me of when Charvez Foger let Dario Herrera out the back door of the federal courthouse so Dario could avoid reporters.

This is outrageous and the Las Vegas Sun should pursue this with legal action.
By SCHNORCHEL

Nov. 20, 2009

9:18 a.m.

Suggest removal

This is a Kafkaesque story.

All of the parties are at fault.

1. The court bailiffs mishandled the reporters, using DHS doctrine.

2. Dr. Murray is a sleazy character.

3. Reporters are usually slimy tattletales, given over to lying.

They all deserve each other.
By Planetearthcalling

Nov. 20, 2009

9:27 a.m.

Suggest removal

Nice post SCHNORCHEL. Pretty much nailed it.
By MG

Nov. 20, 2009

9:53 a.m.

Suggest removal

"The number of deaths of children is up 230% since the implementation of the Clark County Marshals program of "perceived" threats."

This is appalling and deserves investigation!

Your child could be next.
By spinningwheels

Nov. 20, 2009

11:46 a.m.

Suggest removal

I guess the Judges are still in shock from the embarrassment. They are like church mice. Everyone points the blame at a sole Bailiff, D. Curran. This bailiff followed his chain of command. He followed the orders laid out by Sgt. Rushfield. Rushfield never received clearence to give such orders. Hardcastle didn't instruct Rushfield to give these orders. Hell Rushfield's own bosses didn't give him these orders.

Like in the past nothing will become of this. Rushfield has committed so many bad acts and he always comes up smelling like a rose. He thrives off publicity. He has numerous complaints in his records. He has been suspended three times. But, never once did the DA prosecute him. Search the records. You'll find a civil suit against him. Better yet read his depositions. Then ask your self why is this guy still on the job and wasting tax payers money.
Power of Judges. Always good to have one in your pocket.

If Ritchie cared about this community he would be making some type of statement. Rushfield has been there a long time. So this can not be a forgiving mistake.

LVMPD Sheriff Gillespie, speaks to the community when something involves his officer's. Whether right or wrong he knows he is elected. Explaination's must be communicated to the citizens that elect him.

So what's with this group of Elected Officials?
Are they above the constitution? They seat there and collect their $170,000.00 plus a year and dismiss the public inquires as to what is going on. Is no one accountable for this group and the employee's?

Rushfield needs to be watched. Put him in time out at the RJC.
By spinningwheels

Nov. 20, 2009

12:36 p.m.

Suggest removal

Check out web site " transparentnevada". Rushfield made $106,000. last year. His base pay is $69,000.He works maybe 4 hours a day. How does that figure out. His buddy, Kenyon came in 2nd.

I now know where all the county money is going. The Bailiff's salaries are outrageous. Most of it is overtime. Obviously Chuck Short wasn't keeping an eye on the hen house.