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Judge Lester is OUT, as a "Florida judge tough on defendants assigned to Zimmerman case"
Florida judge tough on defendants assigned to Zimmerman case
Judge Debra Nelson, who has a reputation for imposing long prison terms and as being pro-prosecution, will preside over the case in the killing of Trayvon Martin.
Judge Debra Nelson, pictured in November 2000, has been appointed to oversee the murder trial of George Zimmerman, who is charged in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. (Scott Audette, Associated Press / November 27, 2000)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-zimmerman-judge-20120901,0,2447961.story
By Rene Stutzman, Orlando Sentinel
September 1, 2012
ORLANDO — Debra S. Nelson, the new judge assigned to George Zimmerman's case, is a 13-year judicial veteran who has a reputation for working hard, being ambitious and imposing long prison terms.
Nelson, 58, was appointed to the bench in 1999 by then-Gov. Jeb Bush. In private practice, her specialty was civil litigation, but on the bench, she has spent most of her time — seven years — handling felony trials.
On Wednesday, the 5th District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach ordered Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. to step aside from the case, saying comments he included in a $1-million bond order were enough to make a reasonable person think he was biased.
"It will take a tremendous amount of judicial courage at this point to throw the case out following an immunity hearing," said criminal defense attorney David Faulkner. "My guess is that any judge, Judge Nelson or otherwise, is going to let a jury decide this issue for the benefit of the public."
Judge Debra Nelson, who has a reputation for imposing long prison terms and as being pro-prosecution, will preside over the case in the killing of Trayvon Martin.
Judge Debra Nelson, pictured in November 2000, has been appointed to oversee the murder trial of George Zimmerman, who is charged in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. (Scott Audette, Associated Press / November 27, 2000)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-zimmerman-judge-20120901,0,2447961.story
By Rene Stutzman, Orlando Sentinel
September 1, 2012
ORLANDO — Debra S. Nelson, the new judge assigned to George Zimmerman's case, is a 13-year judicial veteran who has a reputation for working hard, being ambitious and imposing long prison terms.
Nelson, 58, was appointed to the bench in 1999 by then-Gov. Jeb Bush. In private practice, her specialty was civil litigation, but on the bench, she has spent most of her time — seven years — handling felony trials.
On Wednesday, the 5th District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach ordered Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. to step aside from the case, saying comments he included in a $1-million bond order were enough to make a reasonable person think he was biased.
"It will take a tremendous amount of judicial courage at this point to throw the case out following an immunity hearing," said criminal defense attorney David Faulkner. "My guess is that any judge, Judge Nelson or otherwise, is going to let a jury decide this issue for the benefit of the public."
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