Nile Copeland

What training, experience, and characteristics qualify you for this position?

While the standard response of: many years of legal and work experience as a former Judge, arbitrator, mediator, and lawyer qualifies me for this position it is incomplete. However my experiences have given me the necessary and appropriate judicial demeanor of being well read, courteous, dignified, patient, and able to render decisions with integrity and impartiality.

What will you do to promote the just, prompt, and affordable resolution of civil cases that come before your court?

I will do what is expected of a trial court judge, I will follow the law and treat everyone fairly. As a lawyer, I want judges who read and prepare for the cases, actively listen and who are fair in their decisions. I hope to meet and exceed those expectations.

What will you do to ensure that cases before your court are heard in a timely manner?

Set the rule that unnecessary delays will not be the norm. Expect counsel to treat each other with respect and move their cases forward timely. Should parties want extensions it should be well grounded and articulated with specificity. However, there are times as we have experienced wherein we need to make adjustments and accommodations in times of an emergency. I recently learned some courts were having parties come in person to court after the hurricane, we need a little more humanity.