# Las Vegas judge gets attacked by defendant

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [January 4, 2024, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571 "2024-01-04T01:04:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/41 "2024-01-07T18:36:31Z")

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> [@Riemann](#):
>
> I’m seeing a story that the judge has ordered his reappearance in her courtroom for sentencing on Monday. Amusing as that prospect seems, how on earth can she not recuse herself? -

One of the law channels that do these courtroom videos said that (with a bit of a smirk), in effect, he was presenting new evidence and the judge can consider that.  
What she can’t do is preside over his trial(s) on the new charges resulting from his actions.

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**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/42 "2024-01-07T19:03:15Z")

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IANAL but I would think that it would not be a good idea to have a precedent that effectively says that if you don’t like your judge, you can them to recuse by attacking them.

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**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\
**Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/43 "2024-01-07T19:05:47Z")

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That’s a good point. I guess this guy is the metaphor for Trump’s tactics at trial, to attack the judge relentlessly and then claim that the judge is biased against you.

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**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/44 "2024-01-08T01:34:22Z")

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She certainly can’t preside over his trial for his attack on her since she’d be a prosecution witness.

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/45 "2024-01-08T01:41:57Z")

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> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#):
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> She certainly can’t preside over his trial for his attack on her since she’d be a prosecution witness. -

She _can_ charge him with contempt of court.

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**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/46 "2024-01-08T01:44:11Z")

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> [@Riemann](#):
>
> I’m seeing a story that the judge has ordered his reappearance in her courtroom for sentencing on Monday. Amusing as that prospect seems, how on earth can she not recuse herself?

I suspect she is simply going to complete the sentencing she started but was unable to finish. There were surely additional findings to be made on the record. After pronouncing the sentence, a judge must state good-time/work-time credits (if any) and formally remand the defendant to commence his sentence. There are all kinds of little “loose ends” pronouncements that must be made to complete any sentencing proceeding.

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**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/47 "2024-01-08T03:10:34Z")

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> [@Aspenglow](#):
>
> I suspect she is simply going to complete the sentencing she started but was unable to finish.

She’s a very strong woman to be able to finish the job now instead of delaying. Her clerk might consider carrying a couple of rolls of dimes in his pockets, just in case. (Actually, after watching the video, I suspect he currently has a cast on his right wrist due to Boxer’s Wrist.)

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/48 "2024-01-08T03:18:20Z")

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He was treated for either abrasions or cuts on his hands(reports vary).  
Getting the rolls out and positioned would have taken too much time and the judge would have been hurt a lot worse.  
The time was better used doing just what he did, get the guy off the judge and keep him busy until other officers could assist.

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**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/49 "2024-01-08T03:24:47Z")

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> [@JaneDoe42](#):
>
> She’s a very strong woman to be able to finish the job now instead of delaying.

There has always been an element of violence in courtrooms – I’ve certainly seen it a few times – and judges accept it as part of the job. However, I think it has increased noticeably in the Trump era. I’m very sorry to see it.

I’m confident the defendant will receive a significant sentence for his assault when the case is adjudicated.

I agree with others who said the clerk was on top of the situation (in every meaning of the words!). Well done him.

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/50 "2024-01-08T03:50:01Z")

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> [@Aspenglow](#):
>
> I’m confident the defendant will receive a significant sentence for his assault when the case is adjudicated. -

Looks like the judge was right.

> **[Man who lunged at judge in court reportedly said he wanted to kill her](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/man-lunged-at-judge-reportedly-said-he-wanted-to-kill-her-mary-kay-holthus-deobra-redden/)**
>
> Courtroom video caught him leaping onto her. CBS News affiliate KLAS-TV obtained documents quoting him as saying he'd had a bad day.

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**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/51 "2024-01-08T03:57:01Z")

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> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> The time was better used doing just what he did, get the guy off the judge and keep him busy until other officers could assist.

Oh, I wasn’t downplaying what he did. He was a hero. It’s just that when people who aren’t trained to fight have to fight, they often damage themselves without even feeling it. As adrenalin filled as he was at the moment, he could very well have kept punching with two broken wrists.

I admire him immensely.

> [@Aspenglow](#):
>
> However, I think it has increased noticeably in the Trump era. I’m very sorry to see it.

I live in a very red area. Folks out here complain about the lack of civility these days and when I agree and say it started back around 2015, they always agree without understanding what I’m implying.

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/52 "2024-01-08T16:30:19Z")

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> [@JaneDoe42](#):
>
> As adrenalin filled as he was at the moment, he could very well have kept punching with two broken wrists.

More likely he’d get Boxer fractures, of the proximal 5th metacarpal rather than wrist fractures.

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**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/53 "2024-01-08T18:48:45Z")

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Doesn’t matter what he got broken, as long as it hurt a lot, and there were lots of them. I mean the defendant of course.

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**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/54 "2024-01-08T19:42:50Z")

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Has anyone found a live stream of her courtroom today? There will surely be a big audience for the sentencing hearing.

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**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/55 "2024-01-08T20:37:51Z")

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[Here on the Law & Crime channel](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hgqNqKBJLLk)

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**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/56 "2024-01-08T22:25:15Z")

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His family members, the sister and mother, were, shall we say, odd.

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**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/57 "2024-01-08T22:55:18Z")

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I liked how she clearly explained how she was preserving evidence that she had not changed his sentence in any way from what she’d originally decided. Probably guarding against the defendant’s inevitable appeal.

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**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/58 "2024-01-08T23:06:27Z")

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I liked the way the security guards were on all sides of him all the time and they never looked away from him. _They_ were not going to be caught napping this time.

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**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/59 "2024-01-08T23:28:12Z")

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> [@Ponderoid](#):
>
> I liked how she clearly explained how she was preserving evidence that she had not changed his sentence in any way from what she’d originally decided. Probably guarding against the defendant’s inevitable appeal.

I gather that she would have been entitled to consider what he did in sentencing. But I agree it’s certainly it’s a better look that she doesn’t. Another court will deal with the attack as a new crime, so it’s not as though he got a free shot at her. And there’s no danger of him being out on the street in the immediate future.

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**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/las-vegas-judge-gets-attacked-by-defendant/995571/60 "2024-12-11T00:59:33Z")

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26 to 65 years.

> **['Attack on the judiciary': Man gets hefty sentence for beating judge in...](https://www.rawstory.com/deobra-redden/)**
>
> A man who leaped over a bench and beat a 62-year-old Las Vegas judge during a court appearance has been sentenced to decades in prison, according to a report.Deobra Redden, 31, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to attempted murder in September stemming...

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