When Clark County District Judge Erika Ballou was a card carrying Socialist, Black Lives Matter activist, and Clark County Public Defender, she caused controversy in the courtroom for wearing a Black Lives Matter pin on her blouse. When asked by the presiding judge to remove the pin, Ballou protested and issued this statement: “If you think that Black Lives Matter is anti-police, ask yourself if police are anti-Black Lives. In a free country, I shouldn’t be afraid of the police, but I am.”

In a leaked audio provided exclusively to The Globe, this week Judge Ballou echoed similar anti-police rhetoric when presiding over a criminal case of a black defendant, proclaiming: “[As a 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.”

President Steve Grammas of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association told The Globe:

“On behalf of the men and women of law enforcement, the Las Vegas Police Protective Association takes exception to Judge Erika Ballou’s disparaging comments about police officers. We call upon Judge Ballou to resign from the bench. We also ask the Judicial Ethics Commission to sanction her for violating the Nevada Code of Judicial Conduct.

Among other obligations, the rules require the judiciary to, “[A]spire at all times to conduct that ensures the greatest possible public confidence in their independence, impartiality, integrity, and competence.” Judge Ballou has demonstrated that she is biased against law enforcement and cannot live up to the standards required of a jurist.

Judge Ballou’s comments, from the bench, that she, “does not want to be around where cops are because I don’t know whether I am going to walk away alive or not…” are both unethical and irresponsible. Police officers and the law abiding citizens of our community deserve better from the judiciary.”

The Globe has also reached out to GOP candidate for governor, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo for comment.  We will update this story with his comment when received.