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• Author: Elizabeth Smith/Mark Thompson
• Pages: 120-133

NELSON, WILLIAM K.

Judge, Rockland County Court

Acting Justice, Ninth Judicial District

Supreme Court

Appointment/Election: Appointed and

elected to Rockland County Court in 1985;

reelected in 1995 and 2005; current term

expires in 2014; appointed Acting Justice by

Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan

Lippman, 1999-present.

Previous Experience: Judge, Family

Court, appointed by Governor of New York,

1984-1985.

Honors and Memberships: Member:

Rockland County Bar Association.

Admission: NYS, Appellate Division,

Second Department, 1972; U.S. District

Court, Southern District of New York; U.S.

Supreme Court, 1977.

Education: J.D., Columbia University

School of Law, New York, NY (1971); B.A.,

Howard University, Washington, DC (1966).

Address: 1 South Main Street

New City, NY 10956

Phone: (845) 483-8340

ATTORNEYS’ COMMENTS

TEMPERAMENT/DEMEANOR

Interviewees seem pleased with Judge

Nelson’s courtroom temperament. They said,

“It’s excellent. He’s very compassionate,” “It’s

very pleasant and very professional” and “It’s

very fine and outstanding. He’s friendly.”

Others agreed and opined, “Judge Nelson’s

demeanor is professional and outgoing” and

“He’s very professional and very respectful of

attorneys and their clients.”

ON THE BENCH

Nearly all of the attorneys interviewed said

Judge Nelson’s legal knowledge is “excellent.”

The one remaining litigator described it as

“very high.” Two lawyers said Judge Nelson’s

courtroom management style falls between

“formal and relaxed.” Others opined, “It’s

somewhat formal,” “It’s flexible—serious or

demanding—[whatever is] required” and “It’s

very relaxed. He makes sure everyone is com-

fortable.” A majority of the litigators said this

jurist moves cases at an “appropriate” pace.

The remaining ones said matters move at an

“average” pace. One of these last lawyers

added, “He always maintains the ‘standards

and goals,’ but he’s [also] very interested in

seeing justice done.” Interviewees said that

Judge Nelson is always polite to everyone. As

two lawyers put, “He’s courteous at all times”

and “He’s extremely polite.” Every lawyer inter-

viewed said Judge Nelson always takes the

bench on time. One of the attorneys even said,

“He’s very punctual.”

ONTRIAL

All of the interviewed attorneys said Judge

Nelson listens closely to their arguments and

keeps an open mind. One of them added,

“very much so.” More than half of the inter-

viewees described Judge Nelson’s courtroom

atmosphere as “professional.” Others opined,

“It’s extremely professional and comfortable”

and “It’s both professional and comfortable.”

When asked if this judge interacts well with

jurors, two lawyers responded, “He does an

excellent job working with jurors.” Others

agreed, with one of them opining, “He inter-

acts extremely well with them.” Every knowl-

edgeable lawyer interviewed said Judge

Nelson listens closely to attorney arguments

and keeps an open mind. Two litigators said

when it comes to sentencing, Judge Nelson is

“fair.” Another lawyer agreed and said,

“Judge Nelson handles each case the way it

should be handled.” One final attorney said,

“He’s fair but tough.”

SETTLEMENTS

Two attorneys said Judge Nelson is “proac-

tive” and has “extremely strong” skills. Another

lawyer agreed and opined, “He’s got excellent

skills. He tries to help both sides equally.” One

final litigator gave a more detailed response

and said, “Judge Nelson’s involvement depends

on the facts of each case. He’s usually proac-

tive and has strong skills.”

ADJOURNMENTS/CONTINUANCES

A majority of the interviewees said Judge

Nelson is either “reasonable” or “very reason-

able” about granting adjournments. Others

opined, “[You’ve got an] average” chance of get-

ting him to grant one and “He’s more likely to

grant one than other judges. He’s very sympa-

thetic to the requirements of private practice.”

PROCLIVITIES

Overall, most of the lawyers interviewed

said Judge Nelson’s rulings and decisions are

either “very fair” or “extremely impartial.”

606 Nelson New York Judge Reviews