Former Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass, the Las Vegas jurist who sentenced O.J. Simpson to prison before later becoming a television court show host, has died at the age of 70.
Glass died Friday afternoon in Las Vegas, according to multiple reports. TMZ first reported her death, while her daughter subsequently announced the loss on social media. The Daily Mail reported the news Friday evening.
Glass became nationally recognized for presiding over Simpson’s 2008 criminal case in Nevada, which stemmed from a confrontation involving sports memorabilia dealers at a Las Vegas hotel.
Simpson was ultimately convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping charges, among others, and Glass sentenced the former NFL star to a maximum of 33 years behind bars.
The case represented another dramatic chapter in Simpson’s turbulent life more than a decade after his acquittal in the 1994 killings of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman.
Glass made clear during the Nevada sentencing that the punishment was not intended as retaliation for Simpson’s previous legal history.
“I’m not here to try and cause any retribution or any payback for anything else,” Glass said at the time, adding that she wanted that point to be “perfectly clear.”
Simpson ultimately served nine years in prison before being granted parole in 2017. He died in 2024.
Years after imposing the sentence, Glass said she opposed Simpson receiving parole, telling a Las Vegas television station that she questioned whether he understood the seriousness of his actions.
The Simpson proceedings, however, represented only one chapter of Glass’ lengthy legal career.
Glass served on Nevada’s Eighth Judicial District Court for roughly eight years, beginning in 2003 and remaining on the bench until her retirement in 2011.
During her time on the bench, Glass handled both criminal and civil cases and was involved in specialty court programs addressing mental health and substance abuse.
She helped establish Clark County’s Mental Health Court in 2003 and later created a task force that contributed to the formation of the Clark County Competency Court in 2005, according to her professional biography, per the Daily Mail.
Following her retirement from the bench, Glass entered television.
She succeeded Nancy Grace as host of the nationally syndicated courtroom program “Swift Justice,” overseeing the show during its final season from 2011 to 2012.
The cases featured on the program were real disputes, with participants agreeing to have Glass resolve them through televised binding arbitration.
Glass later returned to alternative dispute resolution work and most recently served as a mediator with Advanced Resolution Management.
News of her death prompted tributes from members of Nevada’s legal community.
Former Clark County District Attorney David Roger remembered Glass as both a respected judge and a kind person.
“My family and I are very sad to hear about the passing of Jackie Glass,” Roger said. “She was a respected jurist. But more importantly, she was a warm and friendly person.”
Glass is survived by her husband, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, and their two daughters, Las Vegas Municipal Court Judge Rebecca Wolfson and comedian and stunt performer Rachel Wolfson.
Rachel shared an emotional tribute to her mother Friday night.
“Rip my rock, I don’t know how I’ll do this life without you,” she wrote. “I love you so much mommy, I’ll see you again someday.”
