Judge Jackie Glass, who presided over cases in daytime TV series “Swift Justice,” has passed away.
TMZ reports that Glass passed in Las Vegas on Friday, August 28. She was 70 years old
As a Nevada judge, Glass came to fame when she presided over the 2008 criminal trial of O.J. Simpson, issuing the sentence that saw the controversial celebrity spend nearly 10 years as an inmate in a federal penitentiary.
Glass’ daughter, Rachel Wolfson, announced her death in a Facebook post.
“Rip my rock, I don’t know how I’ll do this life without you, I love you so much mommy Jackie Glass, I’ll see you again someday,” Wolfson wrote in her heartfelt tribute.
She also shared a follow-up post that featured various images of her late mother.
Sentencing Simpson
GettyGlass made headlines in 2008 when presiding over the trial of O.J. Simpson, who’d been charged with armed robbery and assault due to an incident that took place in a Las Vegas hotel.
Glass sentenced Simpson to 33 years in prison after he was found guilty.
Simpson spent nearly a decade behind bars before being released on parole in 2017. Previously, the one-time Buffalo Bills running back-turned-actor stood trial for the murder of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman before being acquitted in what remains one of the most controversial jury verdicts of the 20th century.
Simpson passed away in 2024 while battling cancer.
A Turn to TV with ‘Swift Justice’
During Simpson’s high-profile trial, Glass’ no-nonsense personality, and the iron-fisted control she exerted over her courtroom amid a media circus, drew attention.
That wound up leading her to television, and in 2011 she was tapped to preside over small-claims cases on HLN’s “Swift Justice” after the series’ original star, Nancy Grace, exited.
At the time of her announcement as the series’ new star, reports The Hollywood Reporter, “Swift Justice” executive producer John Terenzio said he was “excited to introduce viewers to another true original Judge Jackie Glass — we are confident our viewers will enthusiastically embrace her.”
Glass remained with the syndicated daytime show until its cancelation in 2012.
Tributes from Las Vegas
Following her television experience, Glass returned to Las Vegas, where she remained an influential figure.
That was clear in the accolades the late judge received after her passing.
Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley shared a tribute for Glass on X. “I am heartbroken and feel like I have lost a sister,” Berkley wrote.
“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 added. “The city of Las Vegas is sending good thoughts and love to Steve Wolfson, our colleague Municipal Court Judge Rebecca Wolfson and all of Jackie’s friends and family.”
U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., also offered her condolences.
“Judge Glass was an inspiring role model who spent her life fighting for justice for others,” she said in a statement to the Las Vegas Review–Journal, as reported by USA Today.
