Kurt Hildebrand/The Record-Courier
STATELINE, Nevada — Douglas County’s longest-serving judge announced Thursday that he plans to retire on October 5.
Tahoe Township Magistrate Richard Glasson presented the plan to the Douglas County Commissioner.
“I don’t want the county caught off guard,” he told the commissioner. “I chose that date and time because you have a committee meeting later that morning. Accordingly, a motion may be included on the agenda to approve a qualified person to serve for the remainder of my term.”
After hearing Glasson’s announcement, Douglas County Commissioner Mark Gardner said he wanted to thank him for his service.
Glasson was reelected in 2018 to serve his current six-year term.
“I intended to retire more than two years ago, but due to the COVID-19 crisis, I have made sure that the operation of my court is stable and that other courts are not operating due to lack of justice or disputes. , migrated to a new operating system and newly put in place proper preparations, imposing a civil traffic court and securing a continuing court and community service program slowed things down. Remodeling the house inside didn’t help.”
First elected in 2000, he became the fourth elected candidate since the township was founded in 1947.
“I am blessed to have the most knowledgeable, competent, helpful and caring legal support team imaginable.”
District Judge Todd Young said he misses Glasson.
“He has been a consistent source of wisdom and creativity for our county,” Young said. has taught and mentored hundreds of judges in his career and has made a definite improvement to our judicial system.”
Young said he has had the pleasure of working with Glasson over the years.
“Judge Glason has brought us thoughtful and compassionate ideas for moving our local justice system forward,” he said. “He has played a vital role in the modernization of the government’s local judicial branch and has been dedicated to bringing efficiency and transparency to the courts, with the aim of furthering constitutional ideals. Without him on the bench. I’ll miss him, but I’m sure I’ll find time to share a taco or two with him. I’m proud to be his friend.”
District Attorney Mark Jackson said Wednesday that he has been with Glasson for nearly 30 years.
“When we were in private practice in the 1990s, we filed several lawsuits against lawyers,” Jackson said. He was a staunch advocate.”
Jackson said he showed up at the district attorney’s office the same week Glason donned his court uniform. At the time, prosecutors said he was assigned to the Lake Tahoe office every six months.
“I served several of these rotations during my first six years as a prosecutor,” Jackson said. “During that time, there have been over 100 bench trials presided over by Judge Glasson. He is one of the most knowledgeable judges on the rules of evidence. Over the past 23 years, he has used his knowledge and experience in innovative ways.”
In 2020, judges in Nevada, with limited jurisdiction, virtually met to present Glasson with the Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Glasson moved to Lake Tahoe the day after graduating from high school on the San Francisco Peninsula. He left the area to attend college and his McGeorge School of Law.
