Judge previously disciplined for hot tub selfie with public defenders now accused of ignoring Nevada Supreme Court

Clark County District Court Judge Erika Ballou appears on the far left and far right; two public defenders appear in the center left and center right

Left: Clark County District Court Judge Erika Ballou appears in an image with two public defenders (Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline). Right: Ballou appears in a selfie (Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline).

A Nevada judge famous for posing in hot tub selfies with public defenders is facing judicial discipline once again — this time for allegedly ignoring orders issued by the Silver State’s supreme court.

Clark County District Court Judge Erika Ballou is named in a formal statement of charges filed on April 24. The 11-page document alleges the Las Vegas area jurist committed six ethical violations when she repeatedly interjected herself — and her court — into various cases by issuing legally suspect rulings in favor of a criminal defendant.

Each of those disputed cases concerned Mia Christman, 31, who committed violent crimes during a spree some 12 years ago. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a minimum of 10 years behind bars. On appeal, Ballou issued several rulings in Christman’s favor.

“Throughout her involvement in the Christman cases, Judge Ballou exhibited a pattern of conduct that demonstrated a clear bias in favor of Christman and against the State,” the charging document reads. “This bias was evidenced through a combination of actions, omissions, and on-the-record statements that, taken together, reflect a departure from the standard of impartiality required of a Nevada judicial officer.”

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