Jackie Glass, Judge Who Sentenced OJ Simpson, Dies at 70

Jackie Glass, the television judge who handed OJ Simpson his prison sentence, has died at 70. The news broke Friday afternoon in Las Vegas, according to TMZ. She took over hosting duties for Swift Justice after Nancy Grace left the show. Her final season on air ran from 2011 through 2012.

Glass presided over Simpson's sentencing in 2008. He faced up to 33 years behind bars for armed robbery and kidnapping. That conviction followed a trial where she famously told him he was both arrogant and ignorant. The quote came after an apology he offered during the hearing.

She spent eight years on Nevada's Eighth Judicial District Court before retiring, starting her bench role in 2003. Before that legal appointment, she founded Wolfson & Glass with her husband, Steve Wolfson. They ran a firm focused on personal injury and criminal defense until 2002. Her election to the court came one year later.

Glass also helped launch Clark County Mental Health Court in 2003. That effort aimed to improve how the justice system handles mental illness cases. Earlier, she worked as a journalist and radio reporter in Las Vegas during the early 1980s. She earned her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1984.

She practiced law from 1985 to 1990 before founding her own firm with Wolfson. Former colleague Steve Herman called her empathetic and funny. Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley said she felt heartbroken, as if losing a sister. Berkley noted they both began practicing law around the same time and admired everything Glass accomplished over five decades.

Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto shared that shock and sadness on X. She called Judge Glass an inspiring role model who fought for justice for others. Her light extinguished too soon, Masto wrote. Former District Attorney David Roger said he and his family were very sad. He described her as a respected jurist but also a warm and friendly person.

Her daughters survived her: Rebecca Wolfson, a municipal court judge, and Rachel Wolfson, a stuntwoman. On Friday night, Rachel posted on social media that she did not know how to live without her mother. She added, I love you so much mommy, I'll see you again someday. Glass most recently worked as a mediator for Advanced Resolution Management, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Her cause of death has not been revealed.

Grace Glass stepped down from her Clark County judgeship in May 2011. She took the job just before launching her stint as host of Swift Justice. During that final year on the bench, she managed drug and alcohol treatment courts within her district. Her message to participants was clear and direct. 'I really do care whether you succeed or not,' she told them ahead of leaving office, according to the Las Vegas Sun. 'All I want you to do is get clean and sober and stay out of the criminal justice system.'

The reality show ended abruptly in April 2012. Production moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles. This relocation meant Grace would be far away from her young children. She hosted the second and final season before the network pulled the program off air. After the show folded, she became a private judge working with Vegas-based Private Trials. She eventually shifted to Advanced Resolution Management for her last role as a mediator there.

The Daily Mail has contacted Grace Glass's family seeking comment on the situation.