LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The attorney overseeing Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones’ upcoming disciplinary hearing before the state bar ruled in favor of the embattled public official, prohibiting the bar counsel from introducing so-called “prior bad acts,” public records show.
Jones is under fire for deleting text messages from his telephone related to a development on Blue Diamond Hill that ended up in a court case in which the county lost an $80 million judgment. In April 2023, a federal court magistrate judge found Jones deleted those messages and the state bar now has a disciplinary hearing in March where Jones faces disbarment or suspension of his license to practice law.
But in a ruling dated Feb. 4, panel chair Andrew Chiu denied the state bar’s motion to include evidence that Jones “admitted to making misrepresentations” in Clark County District Court when he was representing Las Vegas Sands. The Sands wanted to expand internationally, and Jones answered with “lack of candor” to a question the presiding judge asked him with regard to certain electronic information being discussed in that court hearing, the state bar argued.
Retired judge Betsy Gonzalez, however, testified voluntarily on Jones behalf at the January hearing.
“I’ve known Justin a long time,” Gonzalez testified. “When he told me what was happening related to the Sands Jacobs [case], I thought there must be misunderstanding about what happened. So I am trying to clarify it.”
Jones’ attoney, Rob Bare, discussed statements Jones made in court and in a hearing Gonzalez conducted, after which she fined the Sands $250,000 but did not sanction Jones.
“Did Justin Jones, in your opinion commit a crime wrong or bad act?” Bare asked.
“I can’t give you an opinion,” Gonzalez said. “But I can tell you based upon the facts, it did not appear to me that he committed anything that would have caused me to issue any discovery, sanctions or the type of sanctions that were issued in these two orders.”
As a result, Chiu issued a written ruling in favor of Jones.
“Bar Counsel has not proven by clear and convincing evidence thatRespondent committed bad acts,” Chiu wrote.
Dan Hooge, the bar counsel, provided the 8 News Now Investigators with this written statement over email, which reads, in its entirety: “I respect the panel chair’s decision. We will proceed to a formal hearing in March. The State Bar remains committed to protecting the public and upholding the integrity of the profession.”
Hooge will oversee the state bar’s effort to discipline and possibly disbar Jones at a three-day hearing in March.
Jones, in his first public comments about the state bar disciplinary action, also commented over email.
“I am grateful that Judge Gonzalez was able to correct mischaracterizations of her orders in the Sands case and clarify that she does not believe that I was dishonest with her,” Jones wrote.
