*Survey respondents were asked to comment only upon those candidates with whom they have had direct professional contact within the last four years.  All questions were optional.

Education:
Bill graduated, with distinction, from Indiana University in 1981 earning his B.S. in Criminal Justice; he received his J.D. from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 1984.

Judicial Experience:
Judge Nelson has been the presiding judge of Marion Superior Court, Criminal Division 7 since January 2001. Prior to his election to the Superior Court, he served as judge of the Marion County Small Claims Court, Warren Township Division from 1994 to 2000.

Significant Legal Accomplishments:
Bill was approved and recommended in the 2000 and 2006 Indianapolis Bar Association (IndyBar) Judicial Candidate Evaluations. He is very active in the IndyBar, having served on numerous committees, including the Bench Bar Steering Committee, Leadership Development Committee, Criminal Modest means Committee, and The Bar Leader Series Committee. He is a frequent lecturer in the Bar’s Continuing Legal Education programs as well as the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum. He has also served several terms on the IndyBar Board of Directors and is a past vice-president. Bill has the unique pleasure of being a two-time recipient of The IndyBar President’s Award in 2001 and 2006 for Outstanding Service to the Bar; he is a Distinguished Fellow of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation. Bill is a graduate of the Indiana Judicial College and the Indiana Graduate Program for Judges.

Other Legal Involvement:
Before being elected to the court, Bill maintained a private law practice for 15 years. He is also a former deputy prosecutor and he worked his way through college and law school as a police officer, having graduated from the Indianan Law Enforcement Academy in 1980. Judge Nelson was a member of the Marion County Community Corrections Advisory Board from 2001- 2008, and was vice chairman of the board from 2007-2008. He continues to serve the IBA in various capacities, including member of the Executive Committee of the Criminal Justice Section of which he is the current Section Chair. Bill’s professional affiliations include the Indiana Judges Association, the Indianapolis Bar Association, the Indianapolis Bar Foundation, the Indiana State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Northern and Southern Districts of the State of Indiana, and he is a member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, having been admitted in 2003. Bill has also attended and completed several programs, including his certification in civil mediation, at the National Judicial College.

Personal Statement:
It has been both and honor and pleasure to serve the citizens of Marion County as a judicial officer for almost 18 years. During my years on the bench I have earned the respect of all who appear before me. I have the temperament, the life experiences and the professional expertise to render decisions that are reasonable, appropriate, and fair. I strive to treat lawyers and litigants courteously and with respect. I am extremely proud that my court is often touted by the lawyers who regularly appear before me as “the best court in the system”.