Neil Roddenbery
Neil Roddenbery
District: Circuit Judge
Comments
Article
By ERIC PERA
THE LEDGER
Neil Roddenbery garnered mostly praise in this year's Ledger bar survey, ranking 15th among 28 circuit judges.
Lawyers used terms like solid, practical and conscientious to describe the 53-year-old jurist and former Lakeland police officer.
"Judge of the people," one lawyer said.
"A very good addition to the civil division," another said.
Not every comment was glowing.
"Too harsh on criminal cases, not fair and impartial," one lawyer said.
"Allows his personal preferences or biases to interfere with his judgment," said another.
Roddenbery withheld comment for the most part, explaining some of the negatives refer to the 2 1/2 years he spent in the felony division. He rotated to the civil division in January of last year.
The Tallahassee native received a 7.52 average score out of 10 possible. His highest score, 7.78, was for professional conduct; his lowest, 7.35, for written decisions. Those scores landed him two spots down from his 13th place finish two years ago.
One lawyer spoke highly of Roddenbery's efficiency and unwillingness to "postpone a trial unless a party has a very good reason."
"The Florida Supreme Court says that civil cases should be resolved within 18 months," Roddenbery said. "I try to manage the 2,600 or so cases that I have and not allow them to sit."
Roddenbery earned a bachelor's degree in criminology from Florida State University then worked as a police officer from 1978 to 1980. He then entered law school at the University of Florida and spent much of his career as a partner with several Lakeland law firms.
In 2005, former Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Roddenbery to the circuit bench.
A Lakeland resident, Roddenbery has been married 25 years to his wife, Stacey. They have two children.
| 2010 Overall | Legal Ability | Communication Ability | Written Decisions | Professional Conduct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.52 | 7.49 | 7.45 | 7.35 | 7.78 |
Comments
Excellent judge.
Another solid, competent judge.
Too harsh on criminal cases, not fair and impartial. Has vendetta against criminal defendants.
Biggest disappointment of new judges to come along. Not smart. Rude. Defense oriented. Never makes a clean ruling. Embarrassment.
Allows his personal preferences or biases to interfere with his judgment. At times he will refuse to follow the law since he does not like the result.
Nice and intelligent man. Is practical and intelligent. Good combination.
Doing very well. Learning the ropes of being a judge.
Judge of the people.
Is doing a very good job.
Very conscientious and works hard to get it right every time. Great.
Secretive and suspicious. Treats case like a lawyer game. Communicates no caring.
Smart attorney. Still new as judge.
This judge is completely out of touch with reality and refuses to follow the law.
Great trial judge.
A very good addition to the civil division. Bright.
I love that Judge Roddenbery will not postpone a trial unless a party has a very good reason. This results in efficient justice and keeps the courts from being clogged as little as possible.
Good judge.
Another solid, competent judge.
Too harsh on criminal cases, not fair and impartial. Has vendetta against criminal defendants.
Biggest disappointment of new judges to come along. Not smart. Rude. Defense oriented. Never makes a clean ruling. Embarrassment.
Allows his personal preferences or biases to interfere with his judgment. At times he will refuse to follow the law since he does not like the result.
Nice and intelligent man. Is practical and intelligent. Good combination.
Doing very well. Learning the ropes of being a judge.
Judge of the people.
Is doing a very good job.
Very conscientious and works hard to get it right every time. Great.
Secretive and suspicious. Treats case like a lawyer game. Communicates no caring.
Smart attorney. Still new as judge.
This judge is completely out of touch with reality and refuses to follow the law.
Great trial judge.
A very good addition to the civil division. Bright.
I love that Judge Roddenbery will not postpone a trial unless a party has a very good reason. This results in efficient justice and keeps the courts from being clogged as little as possible.
Good judge.
Article
By ERIC PERA
THE LEDGER
Neil Roddenbery garnered mostly praise in this year's Ledger bar survey, ranking 15th among 28 circuit judges.
Lawyers used terms like solid, practical and conscientious to describe the 53-year-old jurist and former Lakeland police officer.
"Judge of the people," one lawyer said.
"A very good addition to the civil division," another said.
Not every comment was glowing.
"Too harsh on criminal cases, not fair and impartial," one lawyer said.
"Allows his personal preferences or biases to interfere with his judgment," said another.
Roddenbery withheld comment for the most part, explaining some of the negatives refer to the 2 1/2 years he spent in the felony division. He rotated to the civil division in January of last year.
The Tallahassee native received a 7.52 average score out of 10 possible. His highest score, 7.78, was for professional conduct; his lowest, 7.35, for written decisions. Those scores landed him two spots down from his 13th place finish two years ago.
One lawyer spoke highly of Roddenbery's efficiency and unwillingness to "postpone a trial unless a party has a very good reason."
"The Florida Supreme Court says that civil cases should be resolved within 18 months," Roddenbery said. "I try to manage the 2,600 or so cases that I have and not allow them to sit."
Roddenbery earned a bachelor's degree in criminology from Florida State University then worked as a police officer from 1978 to 1980. He then entered law school at the University of Florida and spent much of his career as a partner with several Lakeland law firms.
In 2005, former Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Roddenbery to the circuit bench.
A Lakeland resident, Roddenbery has been married 25 years to his wife, Stacey. They have two children.
District: Circuit Judge
Comments
Article
By JOHN CHAMBLISS
The Ledger
Neil A. Roddenbery ranked 13th among 25 circuit judges in his first Ledger judge's survey.
Roddenbery, appointed to the bench by former Gov. Jeb Bush in December 2005, has worked in the felony division since July 2006.
A few lawyers said Roddenbery is inexperienced.
"A newbie, but doing well so far; will grow into his position more," a lawyer wrote. "Smart, but still on learning curve," another said.
Roddenbery received a 7.26 average score out of 10 possible. His highest score was in the professional conduct category with a 7.52. His lowest score, 7.12, was in written decisions.
Most of the two dozen comments about Roddenbery were positive.
"Excellent judge: prepared, moves cases along; if he doesn't know the law on an issue, he researches it!" one lawyer wrote.
"Crisp, efficient, decisive," another wrote.
Roddenberry said he's learned a lot since being appointed.
One comment particularly irked Roddenbery.
A lawyer wrote, "Condescending; a little heavy handed but has the ability to be a good judge."
"I'm disappointed to think that anyone feels I am disrespectful and condescending," Roddenbery said. "I'll continue to work hard to treat people with respect and courtesy."
After graduating from Florida State University with a bachelor of science degree in criminology, he worked as a police officer from 1978 to 1980 and then put himself through law school at the University of Florida, attending school over the summers so he could graduate faster. He is up for election this year.
Born in Tallahassee, Roddenbery, 51, has lived in Lakeland since 1962. He and his wife of 23 years, Stacey, have two children.
| 2008 Overall | Legal Ability | Communication Ability | Written Decisions | Professional Conduct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.26 | 7.18 | 7.22 | 7.12 | 7.52 |
Comments
Neil A. Roddenbery
A little bit cocky.
A newbie, but doing well so far; will grow into his position more.
An excellent judge with a keen legal mind.
Condescending; a little heavy-handed but has the ability to be a good judge.
Crisp, efficient, decisive.
Disrespectful to defendants and even lawyers.
Excellent judge: prepared, moves cases along, if he doesn't know the law on an issue, he researches it!
Good judge; fair.
Good, solid judge.
Has all the right stuff.
He's getting better.
Needs more seasoning to become a good judge.
One of our best prosecutors.
Pleased with how well he is doing.
Smart, but still on learning curve.
A little bit cocky.
A newbie, but doing well so far; will grow into his position more.
An excellent judge with a keen legal mind.
Condescending; a little heavy-handed but has the ability to be a good judge.
Crisp, efficient, decisive.
Disrespectful to defendants and even lawyers.
Excellent judge: prepared, moves cases along, if he doesn't know the law on an issue, he researches it!
Good judge; fair.
Good, solid judge.
Has all the right stuff.
He's getting better.
Needs more seasoning to become a good judge.
One of our best prosecutors.
Pleased with how well he is doing.
Smart, but still on learning curve.
Article
By JOHN CHAMBLISS
The Ledger
Neil A. Roddenbery ranked 13th among 25 circuit judges in his first Ledger judge's survey.
Roddenbery, appointed to the bench by former Gov. Jeb Bush in December 2005, has worked in the felony division since July 2006.
A few lawyers said Roddenbery is inexperienced.
"A newbie, but doing well so far; will grow into his position more," a lawyer wrote. "Smart, but still on learning curve," another said.
Roddenbery received a 7.26 average score out of 10 possible. His highest score was in the professional conduct category with a 7.52. His lowest score, 7.12, was in written decisions.
Most of the two dozen comments about Roddenbery were positive.
"Excellent judge: prepared, moves cases along; if he doesn't know the law on an issue, he researches it!" one lawyer wrote.
"Crisp, efficient, decisive," another wrote.
Roddenberry said he's learned a lot since being appointed.
One comment particularly irked Roddenbery.
A lawyer wrote, "Condescending; a little heavy handed but has the ability to be a good judge."
"I'm disappointed to think that anyone feels I am disrespectful and condescending," Roddenbery said. "I'll continue to work hard to treat people with respect and courtesy."
After graduating from Florida State University with a bachelor of science degree in criminology, he worked as a police officer from 1978 to 1980 and then put himself through law school at the University of Florida, attending school over the summers so he could graduate faster. He is up for election this year.
Born in Tallahassee, Roddenbery, 51, has lived in Lakeland since 1962. He and his wife of 23 years, Stacey, have two children.