Another Activist Judge Goes Too Far
A judge just got suspended for six months without pay. Not because she made a simple mistake, but because she openly defied the Nevada Supreme Court. And this isn’t her first rodeo.
Judge Erika Ballou of Las Vegas has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. This week, the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline handed down her suspension. She’ll also be on probation for two years and must take special training classes.
What Did She Do This Time?
The case that got Judge Ballou suspended involved a prisoner named Mia Christman. Ballou ordered Christman’s release and failed to order that Christman be taken back into custody when the Nevada Supreme Court reversed Ballou on appeal.
Think about that for a second. The highest court in Nevada said “send this person back to prison.” Judge Ballou basically said “no.” That’s not how our legal system works. When the Supreme Court speaks, lower courts must listen.
The commission found that Ballou broke multiple rules. She failed to follow the law, didn’t do her job properly, and acted in ways that hurt public trust in our courts. The panel said it also found some of Ballou’s defenses “unpersuasive,” including her claim that the Supreme Court’s phrase “proceedings consistent with this order” in its reversal order “could mean a lot of things.”
A History of Controversial Behavior
This isn’t Judge Ballou’s first time in hot water. When she was elected in 2020, the Las Vegas Democratic Socialists of America celebrated her victory, calling her “a card-carrying member of Las Vegas DSA, the National Lawyers Guild, and the Clark County Black Caucus.” The Las Vegas DSA proudly announced her election as a major win for their socialist agenda.
Even Nevada’s Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford celebrated her during Black History Month in 2021, writing “Celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth today by highlighting Judge Erika Ballou” on social media.
Back when she was a public defender, she made national news for refusing to remove a Black Lives Matter pin in court. Ballou, who is black, balked at Clark County District Court Judge Douglas Herndon’s request that she remove the small round “Black Lives Matter” pin from her blouse while representing a white domestic battery defendant at a sentencing hearing.
The Las Vegas Police Protective Association had sent a letter to judges complaining about “‘Black Lives Matter’ propaganda” in courtrooms. Ballou argued it wasn’t political speech, but about criminal justice. Most legal experts disagree. Courts have long ruled that judges can ban political symbols from courtrooms.
Anti-Police Comments From the Bench
Fast forward to 2022, when Judge Ballou was already on the bench. During a sentencing hearing, she told a defendant:
“You’re a Black man in America, you know you don’t want to be nowhere where cops are. You know you don’t want to be nowhere where cops are cause I know I don’t, and I’m a middle-aged, middle-class Black woman. I don’t want to be around where cops are because I don’t know if I am going to walk away alive or not”.
The Las Vegas Police Protective Association called for her resignation. They said Judge Ballou has demonstrated that she is biased against law enforcement and cannot live up to the standards required of a jurist. Even Nevada’s Republican gubernatorial candidate at the time, Sheriff Joe Lombardo, called for her to step down.
Social Media Problems Too
Judge Ballou also got in trouble for inappropriate social media posts. The Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline filed the order on June 11 after Ballou admitted to violating several ethics rules. This included photos of her in a hot tub with public defenders and comments suggesting court hearings should be canceled so people could attend a music festival.
What Happens Next
Judge Ballou will serve her six-month suspension starting this week. A senior judge will take over her cases during that time. She’ll return to the bench on probation and must complete special training.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson has tried to get Judge Ballou removed from all criminal cases his office prosecutes. That petition is still pending. She’s up for reelection in 2026, giving voters a chance to decide if they want to keep her.
What Conservatives Can Do
This case shows why judicial elections matter. Many people ignore these races, but judges make decisions that affect public safety, property rights, and constitutional freedoms every day.
Research judicial candidates before voting. Look for judges who respect the rule of law over personal politics. Support candidates who understand that compassion and following the law aren’t opposites – good judges can be both fair and firm.
The bottom line is simple: Judges should judge based on law, not personal beliefs. When they don’t, our entire system of justice suffers.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
