Jackie Glass, the former Las Vegas judge who later became a television courtroom personality and was known for sentencing OJ Simpson to prison, has died at 70.
Glass, a former Clark County judge who took over from Nancy Grace as host of the syndicated court show Swift Justice, died Friday afternoon in Las Vegas, according to TMZ.
She drew national attention in 2008 when she handed Simpson a sentence of up to 33 years behind bars following his conviction on armed robbery and kidnapping charges.
Beyond the courtroom, Glass became familiar to daytime TV audiences when she replaced Grace for the final season of Swift Justice, hosting the program from 2011 to 2012.
Her move to television followed years on the bench in Nevada’s Eighth Judicial District Court, where she served from 2003 until her retirement after eight years.
Glass is survived by her husband, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, and her two daughters, municipal court judge Rebecca Wolfson and stuntwoman Rachel Wolfson.
“Rip my rock, I don’t know how I’ll do this life without you,” Rachel wrote in an emotional social media tribute Friday night. “I love you so much mommy, I’ll see you again someday.”
In recent years, Glass continued working in the legal field as a mediator with Advanced Resolution Management, the Las Vegas Review–Journal reported.
Former Clark County Judge Jackie Glass died Friday in Las Vegas. She was 70
Glass is known for having sentenced OJ Simpson to 33 years in prison in 2008 after his conviction for armed robbery and kidnapping
Glass’ daughter, Rachel Wolfson, shared news of her mom’s death on Friday and said she did not know ‘how I’ll do this life with you’
Glass’ cause of death has not been revealed.
Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley wrote on X that she was ‘heartbroken’ at what happened, writing that she felt like she had ‘lost a sister.’
‘We both started practicing law close to the same time and over the last 50 years I have been amazed to see everything she accomplished,’ Berkley said.
Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said she was ‘shocked and saddened’ by the news.
‘Judge Glass was an inspiring role model who spent her life fighting for justice for others,’ Cortez Masto posted on X. ‘Her light extinguished too soon.’
Former Clark County District Attorney David Roger said he and his family were ‘very sad’ about Glass’ death.
‘She was a respected jurist,’ Roger told News3. ‘But more importantly, she was a warm and friendly person.’
Glass had worked as a journalist and radio reporter in Las Vegas during the early 1980s before embarking on her legal career.
She was remembered by former colleague Steve Herman as ’empathetic and funny.’
Glass was elected to the Nevada Eighth Judicial District Court in 2002
She previously founded the firm Wolfson & Glass with her husband, current Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson
Glass’ law career started after she graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1984.
She worked as an associate and as an attorney from various firms from 1985 to 1990 until founding the firm Wolfson & Glass with her husband.
Her focus for the firm was personal injury and criminal defense until 2002, when she was elected to the Nevada Eighth Judicial District Court.
One year later, Glass helped create the Clark County Mental Health Court to try to improve the criminal justice system’s dealings with mental illness.
In 2008, Glass received her highest profile case when she directed over Simpson’s proceedings for charges over a 2007 confrontation in a Vegas hotel room.
She memorably pushed back on an apology offered by Simpson during his sentencing hearing.
‘Earlier in this case, at a bail hearing, I asked – said – to Mr. Simpson I didn’t know if he was arrogant or ignorant or both,’ Glass told him, per the San Diego Union Tribune. ‘And during the trial and through this proceeding, I got this answer, and it was both.’
Glass, pictured during Simpson’s sentencing, is remembered for telling the football star that she ‘didn’t know if he was arrogant or ignorant or both’
Glass’ cause of death has not been revealed. She last worked as a mediator for Advanced Resolution Management
Glass retired from her Clark County judge role in May 2011 ahead of her new role as Swift Justice host.
She had overseen her district’s drug and alcohol treatment courts during her last year on the bench.
‘I really do care whether you succeed or not,’ Glass told participants in her drug court ahead of her departure, per the Las Vegas Sun. ‘All I want you to do is get clean and sober and stay out of the criminal justice system.’
Grace left the show because production was moving from Atlanta to Los Angeles, which would take her away from her young kids.
Glass hosted the show’s second and final season before it was pulled off the air in April 2012.
She then became a private judge with Vegas-based mediation service Private Trials before moving to her final role with Advanced Resolution Management.
Our News Outlet has reached out to Glass’ family for comment.
