Jackie Glass Dies at 70: Former Swift Justice Host Remembered for Her Career in Law and Television
Jackie Glass, the former Nevada judge who sentenced O.J. Simpson to prison and later hosted the courtroom television show Swift Justice, has died at 70.
Glass died in Las Vegas. Her daughter, Rachel Wolfson, announced her death in a heartfelt social media tribute. deadline.com
A Judge Who Became a Familiar Television Face
Glass served for eight years on Nevada’s Eighth Judicial District Court, handling civil and criminal cases before leaving the bench in 2011.
That year, she succeeded Nancy Grace as the host of Swift Justice. The syndicated courtroom program featured small claims disputes resolved through binding arbitration. Glass hosted its second and final season, which concluded in April 2012. aol.com
Her move into television followed years of courtroom experience, bringing a practicing judge’s background to a format built around everyday disagreements.
National Attention Through the O.J. Simpson Case
Glass became nationally known in 2008 when she sentenced Simpson to 33 years in prison following his convictions in a Las Vegas armed robbery and kidnapping case.
The charges stemmed from a 2007 confrontation involving sports memorabilia dealers at a Las Vegas hotel. Simpson was subsequently released on parole in 2017. aol.com
A Career That Began in Broadcasting
Before entering the legal profession, Glass worked in journalism. After graduating from the University of Georgia, she moved to Las Vegas and became a radio news reporter at KORK-AM.
She later joined KTNV-TV Channel 13, working as a reporter and news anchor. A change in direction took her to the University of San Diego School of Law, where she earned her law degree in 1984. Her later television career brought together the broadcasting and legal experience she had developed over decades. aol.com
Family and Colleagues Pay Tribute
Rachel Wolfson remembered her mother as her “rock,” expressing her grief and love in a Facebook post.
Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley and Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto also paid tribute, recognizing Glass’s achievements and service to the community.
Glass is survived by her husband, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, and their daughters, Rachel and Rebecca. Rebecca followed her mother into the judiciary, becoming a Las Vegas municipal court judge.
