Judge Jackie Glass Dies at 70: ‘Swift Justice’ Host Who Sentenced O.J. Simpson
Judge Jackie Glass, the respected Nevada jurist who later became the television host of the syndicated courtroom series Swift Justice, has died. She was 70.
Glass died Friday, August 28, in Las Vegas, according to reports citing an announcement from her family. Her cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
The former judge’s daughter, comedian Rachel Wolfson, confirmed the heartbreaking news in an emotional social media post.
“I love you so much, Mom,” Wolfson wrote while mourning the loss of the woman she described as her rock. The announcement prompted an outpouring of condolences from members of Nevada’s legal community, public officials, former colleagues and television viewers who remembered Glass for her commanding courtroom presence.
From Journalism to the Courtroom
Born in 1955, Jackie Glass followed an unconventional route into the legal profession. She earned an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Georgia in 1978 before receiving her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1984.
Before practicing law, Glass worked in broadcasting, including positions as a radio news reporter, television anchor and crime reporter. That early media experience would eventually prove valuable when she moved from a traditional courtroom into nationally syndicated television.
After entering the legal profession, Glass worked in private practice and built a reputation as a determined and capable attorney.
Her judicial career began after she was elected to Nevada’s Eighth Judicial District Court in November 2002. She took office in 2003 and remained on the bench until 2011.
During those eight years, Glass handled numerous criminal and civil matters while also supporting programs designed to address complicated issues involving mental health and competency within the justice system.
She helped establish the Clark County Mental Health Court in 2003 and created a task force that contributed to the formation of the Clark County Competency Court in 2005. Her work earned her a National Association of Counties Achievement Award in 2007. Ballotpedia
The O.J. Simpson Case
Glass became nationally known through her role in the Las Vegas armed-robbery case involving former football star and actor O.J. Simpson.
The case stemmed from a September 2007 confrontation inside a room at the Palace Station hotel and casino in Las Vegas. Simpson and several other men entered the room to retrieve sports memorabilia that Simpson claimed belonged to him. Prosecutors maintained that weapons were used during the confrontation and that the people inside the room were prevented from leaving.
In October 2008, a jury found Simpson and co-defendant Clarence “C.J.” Stewart guilty on all charges, including armed robbery and kidnapping.
Glass subsequently sentenced Simpson to up to 33 years in prison, with the possibility of parole after nine years.
“This was not about payback,” Glass said at the time, addressing speculation that Simpson’s punishment had been influenced by his controversial acquittal in the 1994 killings of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman.
The judge emphasized that the Las Vegas sentence was based solely on the crimes and evidence presented in her courtroom.
Simpson was granted parole in 2017 after serving approximately nine years. He died from cancer in April 2024 at the age of 76.
Although the Simpson proceedings became the most widely recognized case of Glass’ judicial career, colleagues remembered her for much more than that single trial. They described a judge who was thoroughly prepared, deeply engaged and committed to maintaining control of her courtroom without losing sight of the people affected by her decisions.
Taking Over ‘Swift Justice’
Glass retired from the Nevada bench in 2011 and stepped into a very different kind of courtroom when she became the host of Swift Justice.
The syndicated reality courtroom program had originally premiered in 2010 with legal commentator and former prosecutor Nancy Grace as its host. When Grace left after the first season, Glass was selected to replace her.
Glass’ arrival brought a more traditional judicial atmosphere to the program. Drawing on her years of courtroom experience, she heard small-claims disputes presented as binding arbitration and delivered decisions in a direct, authoritative style.
Her journalism and broadcasting background helped her adapt naturally to television. She could explain legal questions in accessible language while keeping the proceedings focused and moving quickly.
Glass hosted the second and final season of the series, which continued airing through 2012. Although her tenure on the program was relatively brief, Swift Justice introduced her to viewers across the United States and established her as one of television’s recognizable courtroom personalities. The Hollywood Reporter
A Continued Commitment to Justice
Following her departure from television, Glass remained connected to the legal profession. She worked as a mediator and used her extensive judicial experience to help parties resolve disputes outside the courtroom.
Her work reflected a career spent in several demanding fields. She had been a reporter covering crime, an attorney representing clients, a judge presiding over high-stakes proceedings and a television personality explaining justice to a national audience.
Glass also served her community beyond the bench. Her professional biography included work with the Las Vegas Housing Authority Board and the Senior Citizens Law Project.
Public officials paid tribute to her following news of her death. Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley remembered Glass as a strong and accomplished figure within the city’s legal community, while U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto praised her dedication to justice and the example she set for women entering the law.
The tributes reflected the breadth of Glass’ influence. Some remembered the fearless judge who presided over one of Las Vegas’ most closely watched criminal trials. Others remembered the television host whose sharp questions and decisive rulings made Swift Justice compelling viewing. For her family and friends, however, she was a beloved wife, mother and source of strength.
Family and Legacy
Jackie Glass is survived by her husband, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, and their daughters, Rachel Wolfson and Rebecca Wolfson.
Her marriage placed two prominent figures from Nevada’s legal community within the same family. However, Glass built a public identity entirely her own—first through journalism, then through private legal practice, judicial service and television.
Her passing leaves a profound loss for her loved ones and for the wider Las Vegas community she served for decades.
Glass will be remembered for her intelligence, unmistakable authority and willingness to take on difficult responsibilities. Whether she was confronting defendants in a crowded criminal courtroom, helping develop programs for vulnerable people or settling disputes before a television audience, she approached her work with confidence and purpose.
Judge Jackie Glass was 70. People reported that funeral or memorial arrangements had not yet been publicly announced.
