Judge Denies Request to Remove Judge in Summerlin Private School Sex Assault Case

Chief District Judge Jerry Wiese ruled that a reasonable person would not question District Judge Christy Craig's impartiality in the case against two teens charged.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 10:11pm

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A judge has rejected an attempt by a Summerlin private school student accused in connection with a sexual assault on a class trip to Costa Rica to remove the judge overseeing the case. Chief District Judge Jerry Wiese ruled that a reasonable person would not question District Judge Christy Craig's impartiality based on an objective analysis of the evidence.

Why it matters

The high-profile case involving two 15-year-old students from the Alexander Dawson School has drawn significant media attention, with the defense arguing that the judge's comments have biased the jury pool. The ruling preserves the current judge's oversight of the case as the defendants, Vaughn Griffith and Dominic Kim, face charges related to the alleged assault.

The details

Griffith faces a count of possession of child sexual abuse material, while Kim faces counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and child abuse, neglect or endangerment. The two could not be directly charged in connection with the assault, and other teens allegedly involved could not be charged at all due to jurisdictional problems, according to Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson. Griffith is also trying to undo a court order certifying him to be tried as an adult.

  • The alleged incident occurred in April 2025 during a class trip to Costa Rica.
  • The judge's order rejecting the request to remove the judge was issued on Friday, April 19, 2026.

The players

Jerry Wiese

Chief District Judge who wrote the order rejecting the attempt to remove District Judge Christy Craig from the case.

Christy Craig

District Judge presiding over the case of the Summerlin private school students accused in the sexual assault.

Vaughn Griffith

A 15-year-old Summerlin private school student charged with possession of child sexual abuse material in connection with the alleged assault.

Dominic Kim

A 15-year-old Summerlin private school student charged with possession of child sexual abuse material and child abuse, neglect or endangerment in connection with the alleged assault.

Steve Wolfson

Clark County District Attorney who stated that the two teens could not be directly charged in connection with the assault, and other teens allegedly involved could not be charged at all due to jurisdictional problems.

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What they’re saying

“Because Defendant Griffith, has failed to establish that Judge Craig has acted with any bias or prejudice against him, whether implicit or explicit, his request to disqualify Judge Craig must be denied.”

— Jerry Wiese, Chief District Judge

“Practically speaking, using (former District Attorney and District Judge) Stew Bell's language, even if that was granted, it would just go to another judge, and they'd hold another hearing, and it's likely he'd be back up here anyway, and I think that's probably the end result. But it may not be. I don't know.”

— Christy Craig, District Judge

“I have had high-profile capital murder trials that haven't drawn this much attention.”

— Tony Sgro, Defense Attorney

What’s next

The judge's ruling preserves the current judge's oversight of the case as the defendants, Vaughn Griffith and Dominic Kim, continue to face charges related to the alleged assault.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges of high-profile criminal cases involving minors, where issues of jurisdiction, adult certification, and media attention can complicate the judicial process. The judge's decision to reject the request to remove the presiding judge underscores the importance of impartiality and objectivity in the criminal justice system.