"The Robing Room: FL State Judges

Hon. Kathryn Nelson	See Rating Details
County Court
St. Lucie County 19th Circuit	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 6.2 - 3 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 6.0 - 8 rating(s)	Please send me alerts on this judge E-mail Address:

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Only items marked with (*) are averaged into the displayed overall rating.

General Rating Criteria

* Temperament		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Scholarship		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Industriousness		(1=Not at all industrious,10=Highly industrious)
* Ability to Handle Complex Litigation		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Punctuality		(1=Chronically Late,10=Always on Time)
* General Ability to Handle Pre-Trial Matters		(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
* General Ability as a Trial Judge		(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
Flexibility In Scheduling		(1=Completely Inflexible,10=Very Flexible)

Criminal Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Criminal Litigation		(1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
General Inclination Regarding Bail		(1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)
Involvement in Plea Discussions		(1=Not at all Involved, 10=Very Involved)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Pretrial Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Trial Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Sentencing Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)

Civil Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Civil Litigation		(1=Not at all Evenhanded,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
Involvement in Settlement Discussions		(1=Not at all Involved,10=Very Involved)
General Inclination		(1=Pro-defendant, 10=Pro-plaintiff)

Comments

What others have said about Hon. Kathryn Nelson

Comments

Other

Comment #: FL2690
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I think that this judge has degraded and tainted the court system with her arrogant and unethical behavour ralated to her DUI conviction. For a judge who refusing to cooperate with law enforcement when requested and who was obviously driving impaired to sit in judgement of other accused of the same is shameful.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: FL2132
Rating:5.4

Comments:
I feel sympathy for her current situation but feel it is probably time for her to do the right thing and step down. As a foreclosure judge she is out of her league and embarrassingly one sided. If you are a homeowner, you have no chance.

Other

Comment #: FL2019
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge has set a poor example for other jurist to follow. Should she really sit in judgement of people who are arrested for what she has done? She refused the sobriety test. She was belligerent with law enforcement. She did not have her xanax in the proper prescription container as required by Florida statutes. Should you Judge other people for substance abuse issues, Kathryn Nelson? I don't think so

Other

Comment #: FL1977
Rating:2.0

Comments:
Judge Nelson has emotional issues whether it simple self esteem or more insidious problems. It's apparent watching her in the courtroom performing duties as a judge. Her behavior ranges from gratuitous to flat out arrogance. She seems poorly informed or perhaps just intentionally dismissive about the society she is supposed to represent. Case in point is her harsh judgment of a young man recently returned from serving 8 years in Iraq/Afghanistan & being arrested on a very minor charge. Having been persuaded by the public defender to plead guilty and forgo a trial of his peers (which he should have done) he has the bad luck of having to appear before Judge Nelson. Nelson’s interaction toward this soldier was dismissive, unconcerned and patronizing. He obviously needed and deserved help from the society for which he has risked his life, been a witness to violent deaths & other horrors that are products of war. Rather than try to help this kid, Judge Nelson doles out an unjust sentence and as an afterthought does a rehearsed "thank you for serving" riff. She's been very clever in her ascent to the bench, hopefully in 2012 she will be made a single term judge and shuffled back to the prosecutors office or where ever she alighted from.

Court Staff

Comment #: FL1066
Rating:9.0

Comments:
Judge Nelson is a great judge. She makes informed decisions; she listens to both sides and does not favor the state. She takes into consideration all the elements in the case to come to a conclusion; she knows how to apply the law and interpret it. She makes one feel very comfortable in court.

Other

Comment #: FL1002
Rating:10.0

Comments:
She is a very fair person and listens to both sides. She gives everyone a chance to tell her what happened and the reason that they are in front of her. She is always in court. If you are a defendant consider yourself lucky to be in front of her. She is one of the best judges that St. Lucie County has to offer.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: FL994
Rating:3.9

Comments:
Judge Nelson still believes that she is employed by the State Attorney. Based upon her rulings, she has never parted with the State Attorney's Office. If you are a defendant, pray.

Litigant

Comment #: FL871
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Judge Nelson is an absolute pleasure to practice in front of. She treats people with respect and all that I have talked to enjoy the experience of practicing in her courtroom. She makes informed, knowledgeable, and well-reasoned rulings.