James A. Yancey
James A. Yancey
District: Circuit Judge
Comments
Article
By JASON GEARY
THE LEDGER
Lawyers expressed mixed feelings about James A. Yancey in The Ledger's biennial survey. Yancey was ranked 23rd among 28 circuit judges, with an overall rating at 7.06 out of 10.
These results were a drop from the previous survey.
In 2008, Yancey ranked 14th with an overall rating of 7.24.
This year, Yancey's highest category was 7.39 for professional conduct. His lowest was 6.78 for written decisions.
Lawyers' comments about Yancey were inconsistent.
Some described the judge as "amiable and humorous," while others called him "a smart aleck" and an "insufferable boor."
One person commented that he is "fair and firm," but another wrote that he "does not follow the law."
Some said Yancey is too tough with his sentences and accused him of being "too pro prosecution."
However, another praised him because he "doesn't let prosecutors always do what they want."
Another person wrote Yancey has "mellowed" with time and "seems to take less unbridled pleasure in sentencing people to prison than in former years."
For himself, Yancey is critical of how the Ledger's survey is conducted. He said the survey is unscientific and essentially serves as a popularity contest that simply makes for interesting reading.
He said the results don't provide a true snapshot of a judge's current performance.
Yancey graduated from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., in 1984.
Gov. Jeb Bush appointed him to the Polk County bench in 2000 and then to the circuit bench in 2003.
He is up for election this year.
Yancey, 49, and his wife, Teresa, live in Lakeland. They have two daughters.
| 2010 Overall | Legal Ability | Communication Ability | Written Decisions | Professional Conduct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.06 | 6.99 | 7.08 | 6.78 | 7.39 |
Comments
Draconian in sentencing.
Amiable and humorous; overall a good judge.
Nice guy, bad judge.
Judge Yancey is smart but a bit of a smart aleck. Judging is not a game.
Fair but firm. Great capacity for case load.
An opinionated, insufferable boor.
Thankfully he was smart enough to order DNA.
Not too bright, but likes to talk a lot.
Solid.
Smart aleck.
Not his daddy.
Good guy.
Does not follow the law. He will make up his own law if he disagrees with case law.
Hard core.
Jumps to a decision - makes up his mind way too fast.
Has an enjoyable personality and demeanor.
Very underrated.
Excellent judge but very tough, espcially on sentencing matters. Almost always friendly and humorous on the bench. Doesn't let prosecutors always do what they want, for example: he listens to defense attorney regarding schedulinhg trials. That's just one
Needs to find a different profession. Pushes his weight around too much.
Decisive, bright, too pro prosecution and harshest sentences but for Durrance. Does not consider the human equation seriously.
Seems to have mellowed. Seems to takes less unbridled pleasure in sentencing people to prison than in former years.
Why politics and the judiciary should not mix.
Good, authoritative judge.
Unusual demeanor - often uncomfortably friendly with counsel during hearings but not in a way that implies favoritism. He has a tendency to want to chat about the underlying issues of a case even if it is beyond the scope of the hearing in question.
Amiable and humorous; overall a good judge.
Nice guy, bad judge.
Judge Yancey is smart but a bit of a smart aleck. Judging is not a game.
Fair but firm. Great capacity for case load.
An opinionated, insufferable boor.
Thankfully he was smart enough to order DNA.
Not too bright, but likes to talk a lot.
Solid.
Smart aleck.
Not his daddy.
Good guy.
Does not follow the law. He will make up his own law if he disagrees with case law.
Hard core.
Jumps to a decision - makes up his mind way too fast.
Has an enjoyable personality and demeanor.
Very underrated.
Excellent judge but very tough, espcially on sentencing matters. Almost always friendly and humorous on the bench. Doesn't let prosecutors always do what they want, for example: he listens to defense attorney regarding schedulinhg trials. That's just one
Needs to find a different profession. Pushes his weight around too much.
Decisive, bright, too pro prosecution and harshest sentences but for Durrance. Does not consider the human equation seriously.
Seems to have mellowed. Seems to takes less unbridled pleasure in sentencing people to prison than in former years.
Why politics and the judiciary should not mix.
Good, authoritative judge.
Unusual demeanor - often uncomfortably friendly with counsel during hearings but not in a way that implies favoritism. He has a tendency to want to chat about the underlying issues of a case even if it is beyond the scope of the hearing in question.
Article
By JASON GEARY
THE LEDGER
Lawyers expressed mixed feelings about James A. Yancey in The Ledger's biennial survey. Yancey was ranked 23rd among 28 circuit judges, with an overall rating at 7.06 out of 10.
These results were a drop from the previous survey.
In 2008, Yancey ranked 14th with an overall rating of 7.24.
This year, Yancey's highest category was 7.39 for professional conduct. His lowest was 6.78 for written decisions.
Lawyers' comments about Yancey were inconsistent.
Some described the judge as "amiable and humorous," while others called him "a smart aleck" and an "insufferable boor."
One person commented that he is "fair and firm," but another wrote that he "does not follow the law."
Some said Yancey is too tough with his sentences and accused him of being "too pro prosecution."
However, another praised him because he "doesn't let prosecutors always do what they want."
Another person wrote Yancey has "mellowed" with time and "seems to take less unbridled pleasure in sentencing people to prison than in former years."
For himself, Yancey is critical of how the Ledger's survey is conducted. He said the survey is unscientific and essentially serves as a popularity contest that simply makes for interesting reading.
He said the results don't provide a true snapshot of a judge's current performance.
Yancey graduated from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., in 1984.
Gov. Jeb Bush appointed him to the Polk County bench in 2000 and then to the circuit bench in 2003.
He is up for election this year.
Yancey, 49, and his wife, Teresa, live in Lakeland. They have two daughters.
District: Circuit Judge
Comments
Article
By JOHN CHAMBLISS
The Ledger
Circuit Judge James A. Yancey moved up in this year's survey, although some lawyers still had qualms about his demeanor on the bench.
Yancey ranked 14th among 25 circuit judges with an overall score of 7.24 out of 10, the same score he received in 2006. But he moved up in the rankings from 16th among the 25 circuit judges.
Yancey's top score was a 7.47 in professional conduct and his lowest was a 6.96 in written decisions.
Yancey was critical of the survey, saying it is "a small percentage" of lawyers and "unscientific."
"I have a lot of issues with the way it is done," Yancey said.
Yancey was praised by some lawyers.
"Hardworker; tries to be fair and practical; has come a long way to be a solid, dependable judge," one lawyer wrote.
"Very involved in bench/Bar activities; sharp judge," a second lawyer wrote.
But others said he needs to improve his courtroom demeanor.
"It's the law according to Yancey, not Florida law; sanctimonious, condescending, self important," one lawyer wrote.
"Needs to control condescending remarks," a second lawyer said.
Yancey, 47, is a 1981 graduate of the University of South Florida and graduated from the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Ala., in 1984.
Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Yancey to the Polk County bench in 2000 and the circuit bench in April 2003. His current term expires in 2010.
Yancey and his wife, Teresa, live in Lakeland. They have two daughters.
| 2008 Overall | Legal Ability | Communication Ability | Written Decisions | Professional Conduct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.24 | 7.24 | 7.28 | 6.96 | 7.47 |
Comments
James A. Yancey
A caring, compassionate Jurist; should supervise staff better.
Can be very condescending to those who appear in front of him; definitely one of the "good ole' boys".
Compassionate and sincere.
Good judge, sometimes testy.
Grumpy always acts like he is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Hard worker; tries to be fair and practical; has come a long way to be a solid, dependable judge.
Needs to control condescending remarks.
One of the best.
Very involved in bench/bar activities; sharp judge.
Very opinionated.
A caring, compassionate Jurist; should supervise staff better.
Can be very condescending to those who appear in front of him; definitely one of the "good ole' boys".
Compassionate and sincere.
Good judge, sometimes testy.
Grumpy always acts like he is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Hard worker; tries to be fair and practical; has come a long way to be a solid, dependable judge.
Needs to control condescending remarks.
One of the best.
Very involved in bench/bar activities; sharp judge.
Very opinionated.
Article
By JOHN CHAMBLISS
The Ledger
Circuit Judge James A. Yancey moved up in this year's survey, although some lawyers still had qualms about his demeanor on the bench.
Yancey ranked 14th among 25 circuit judges with an overall score of 7.24 out of 10, the same score he received in 2006. But he moved up in the rankings from 16th among the 25 circuit judges.
Yancey's top score was a 7.47 in professional conduct and his lowest was a 6.96 in written decisions.
Yancey was critical of the survey, saying it is "a small percentage" of lawyers and "unscientific."
"I have a lot of issues with the way it is done," Yancey said.
Yancey was praised by some lawyers.
"Hardworker; tries to be fair and practical; has come a long way to be a solid, dependable judge," one lawyer wrote.
"Very involved in bench/Bar activities; sharp judge," a second lawyer wrote.
But others said he needs to improve his courtroom demeanor.
"It's the law according to Yancey, not Florida law; sanctimonious, condescending, self important," one lawyer wrote.
"Needs to control condescending remarks," a second lawyer said.
Yancey, 47, is a 1981 graduate of the University of South Florida and graduated from the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Ala., in 1984.
Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Yancey to the Polk County bench in 2000 and the circuit bench in April 2003. His current term expires in 2010.
Yancey and his wife, Teresa, live in Lakeland. They have two daughters.