{"id":221278,"date":"2022-07-14T17:17:38","date_gmt":"2022-07-14T22:17:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=221278"},"modified":"2022-07-14T21:30:03","modified_gmt":"2022-07-15T02:30:03","slug":"las-vegas-police-union-calls-for-removal-of-local-judge-for-anti-cops-statements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/las-vegas-police-union-calls-for-removal-of-local-judge-for-anti-cops-statements\/","title":{"rendered":"Las Vegas Police Union Calls For Removal of Local Judge For Anti-Cops Statements"},"content":{"rendered":"

A local police union is demanding a Las Vegas judge be permanently removed from the bench following a controversial statement she made to a defendant.<\/p>\n

\"Erika
Erika Ballou, pictured above. A Las Vegas police union asked that Ballou, a judge in Clark County, step down after making comments that the union says show bias against police. (Image: CBS News<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During a court hearing, Judge Erika Ballou told an unnamed man this week that he should avoid being around police because of his race<\/a>. She also told the man that the same was true for her.<\/p>\n

You know you don\u2019t want to be nowhere where cops are, cause I know I don\u2019t, and I\u2019m a middle-aged, middle-class Black woman,\u201d the judge told the defendant on Monday. \u201cI don\u2019t want to be around where the cops are, because I don\u2019t know I\u2019m going to walk away alive or not.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

She also told the man appearing before her, \u201cYou\u2019re a Black man in America. You know you don\u2019t want to be nowhere where cops are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her statements led the union, the Las Vegas Police Protective Association (LVPPA), which represents the officers in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, to claim she is \u201cbiased against law enforcement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Case Details<\/h2>\n

The unnamed defendant allegedly committed battery against a police officer, according to official reports. Prior to this hearing, he had been placed on probation. Prosecutors were trying to end the probationary period on Monday.<\/p>\n

Ballou agreed the man violated his probation, according to KLAS,<\/em> a local TV station. She ended the probation and lowered the sentence. It was between 24 and 60 months. It is now between 19 and 48 months.<\/p>\n

Calls for Removal<\/h2>\n

The union says that her statements to the defendant were \u201cunethical and irresponsible. Police officers and the law-abiding citizens of our community deserve better from the judiciary,\u201d the LVPPA said.<\/p>\n

The union is now calling for Ballou to be scrutinized by a judicial ethics investigation, KLAS<\/em>\u00a0reported.<\/p>\n

“Hey, Judge, you are a disgrace to the bench. You have dishonored the robe you wear. You need to resign immediately,”<\/strong> the union posted on Twitter.<\/p>\n

\n

Hey, Judge, you are a disgrace to the bench. You have dishonored the robe you wear. You need to resign immediately. #trashjudge<\/a> #removejudgeballou<\/a> #supportlawenforcement<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/dPYUalpoR4<\/a><\/p>\n

— Las Vegas Police Protective Association (@LVPPA) July 14, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n