Jury Selection Begins in Trial of Man Who Leaped Over Judicial Bench to Attack Clark County Judge

LAS VEGAS, NV — Jury selection is officially underway in Clark County District Court for the trial of Deobra Redden, the 31-year-old defendant whose physical leap over a judicial bench to attack a Las Vegas judge became an international viral sensation.

Redden faces a multi-count indictment that includes attempted murder on a victim 60 years of age or older, battery on a protected person resulting in substantial bodily harm, and extortion with threat of injury, following the incident inside courtroom 9C of the Regional Justice Center.

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|          DEOBRA REDDEN BENCH ATTACK TRIAL DOSSIER      |
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|  - Defendant: Deobra Delone Redden (Age 31)            |
|  - Lead Charges: Attempted Murder (Victim 60+),        |
|    Battery on a Protected Person w/ Substantial Harm,  |
|    Extortion with Threat of Injury, Unlawful Act       |
|  - Court: Clark County District Court (Las Vegas, NV)  |
|  - Presiding Judge: District Court Judge Susan Johnson |
|  - Primary Victim: District Court Judge Mary Kay       |
|                    Holthus (62 at time of attack)      |
|  - Secondary Victims: Court Marshal & Law Clerk        |
|  - Defense Strategy: Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity  |
|  - Key Evidence: Multi-Angle Courtroom Video Feeds     |
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The Incident Captured on Court Record

The charges stem from a routine sentencing hearing before District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus on an underlying attempted battery charge.

As Judge Holthus indicated she would sentence Redden to prison time rather than probation, Redden sprinted forward, launched himself over the elevated judicial bench, and tackled the judge to the floor.

Court security footage captured a violent struggle as court marshals and a judicial law clerk pulled Redden off the judge.

Judge Holthus sustained head trauma and bruising, while a court marshal suffered a dislocated shoulder and facial lacerations requiring emergency medical treatment.

The Legal Clash: Deliberate Attack vs. Severe Mental Breakdown

Jury impaneling before Judge Susan Johnson focuses heavily on juror impartiality regarding the widely circulated video evidence.

Chief Deputy District Attorneys argue that Redden’s actions were calculated, retaliatory, and fueled by anger over facing a prison sentence, pointing to statements Redden made to jail guards immediately following his apprehension.

Redden’s defense attorneys, however, have entered a formal plea of Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity.

The defense contends that Redden was suffering from an acute mental health crisis and delusional episode, arguing that he lacked the cognitive capacity to understand the nature of his actions or form the legal intent required for attempted murder.

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|             THE ROAD TO TRIAL                          |
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|  • Viral Incident: Defendant jumped the bench during a |
|    sentencing hearing after probation was denied       |
|  • Grand Jury: Indicted on 9 felony counts             |
|  • Competency: Evaluated by state psychiatric teams;   |
|    found competent to stand trial under NRS standards  |
|  • Jury Pool: 100+ Clark County citizens summoned      |
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Opening statements are expected to begin immediately following final jury seating. If convicted of attempted murder on a vulnerable victim, Redden faces decades to life behind bars.

Source: Clark County District Court Eighth Judicial District Records (State of Nevada v. Deobra Delone Redden), Associated Press Courts Desk, Las Vegas Review-Journal.