It strikes me that way too much has been made of this case. Under Nevada law, a citizen can arrest another citizen. If this teenager was driving recklessly in Fernley, it was entirely appropriate for another Fernley citizen to arrest and detain her under NRS 171.126: A private person may arrest another: 1. For a public offense committed or attempted in the person’s presence. The Judge's mistake was flashing his old NHP badge and making the arrest under the "color of authority." If he had done it just as "Joe Citizen," there would be no problem, at all, regardless of the fact that he is also a judge. When I was growing up in small-town Nevada, grownups held other people's kids accountable for their misbehavior and scolded them (with the threat of tattling to Mom and Dad!) when offenses were committed in their presence. I guess we can't do that anymore - especially if we are retired law enforcement who spent our lives doing it professionally. Bottom line is you just can't show that you used to be an NHP Trooper when making the arrest . . . you just have to be Joe Citizen or you will be forced to resign your job as judge and be "disgraced" in your community, then subjected to professional discipline 10 months later, for trying to be one of those responsible adults who hold our teenage citizens accountable. Societal evolution marches on, eh?