LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones instructed a three-person panel deciding whether or not to disbar him that he made a “silly mistake” when he wiped his telephone clear of textual content messages associated to a lawsuit over a proposed actual property improvement.
“I might ask to your mercy,” Jones mentioned Tuesday night, within the second day of a three-day disciplinary listening to which is able to decide the way forward for Jones’ legislation license. “If I’m being sincere, your mercy. I made a silly mistake. And it’s haunted me for years now. And I hope you’ll see it that manner. That it was a mistake and never an intentional act to deceive.”
However in two separate complaints, the state bar counsel accuses Jones of purposely deleting textual content messages in April 2019 to cover them and in addition to cover his efforts to bribe then-commissioner – and eventual Democratic Governor – Steve Sisolak in an effort to dam an actual property improvement undertaking close to Pink Rock Canyon. Finally the county settled a lawsuit associated to that undertaking for $80 million.
“It’s a legal act to bribe an elected official,” state bar counsel Dan Hooge mentioned Monday in his opening statements.
Wednesday, within the third day of testimony, Jones known as a number of witnesses in his personal protection to attempt to poke holes within the state bar’s case and to debate his character. A type of witnesses, a well known Las Vegas legal protection legal professional, testified that Jones didn’t bribe Sisolak.
“It will be legally unimaginable,” Gentile mentioned, calling Jones’ dealings with Sisolak “purely political speech.”
The state bar counsel known as a witness to rebut Gentile’s testimony. UNLV Legislation Professor Benjamin Edwards, who teaches lessons on authorized ethics, testified and submitted a written transient to the listening to panel outlining his argument that Jones bribed Sisolak.
“Mr. Jones is a member of the bar. He’s an officer of the court docket. He’s obtained severe obligations as an legal professional to abide by the ethics guidelines.” Edwards continued: “When take a look at the conduct alleged within the grievance, I’m involved as a result of it’s providing a public official a [benefit] in trade for his or her official motion.”
“On the entire, I discover the conduct troubling,” Edwards mentioned.
Jones, the commissioner for Clark County District F since 2018, will not be criminally charged for any of what the bar alleges in its complaints. Even so, Edwards mentioned the bar listening to panel might nonetheless self-discipline Jones if it discovered Jones bribed Sisolak.
“The mere reality of a legal act will not be sufficient,” Edwards mentioned. “You’re actually centered on what it means.”
The attorneys will give their closing arguments late Wednesday, and the listening to panel might problem its resolution on to what extent it disciplines Jones by Wednesday night time.
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