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Pinellas County Court

Pinellas County Court Judge Group 16

Lorraine Kelly

Lorraine Kelly exudes compassion, which is a nice fit for county court where litigants often represent themselves and need a patient hand to help guide them through the system.

In comparison with circuit court, the issues that a county court judge has to rule on are much smaller, but they are no less important to the people who appear in court. Litigants in county court come to dispute traffic tickets, face misdemeanor charges and deal with small civil matters. Often called the people's court, county court is best served when its judges are understanding in addition to learned.

Kelly, 44, has spent 10 years as an assistant public defender in Pinellas County. Her opponent, George Brown, 48, has a wide-ranging civil practice that focuses on personal injury law. But it is Kelly's solid professional qualifications and her people skills that give her the edge in this race.

Those who have seen Kelly in action call her "very smart," a comment that is typically followed by "and very nice." Kelly says she has a "heart for the underdog" but also insists that as a judge she would always maintain "a strong regard for the law."

As an assistant public defender, Kelly has garnered significant courtroom experience. She handles felony cases, including murders, and in 2001, she was named the office's best assistant public defender by Pinellas-Pasco Public Defender Bob Dillinger.

Brown has run unsuccessfully for a judicial seat twice before. He has been practicing law for 18 years, doing primarily civil litigation. Before becoming a lawyer, Brown was a police officer in Ocala. Brown's qualifications have improved in recent years and he is to be commended for his community and pro bono work. But in the end, we think Kelly's sharp legal skills and demeanor make her the better candidate.

In Pinellas County Court Judge Group 16, the Times recommends Lorraine Kelly.

Pinellas County Court Judge Group 17

Nat Kidder

Voters have only one qualified candidate to choose from in this race. Nat Kidder, a highly regarded veteran attorney, would make a far better jurist than Susan Bedinghaus, whose resume is light on experience.

Kidder, 51, has been practicing criminal and family law for nearly 20 years and has earned the highest peer rating from Martindale-Hubbell - a rating that reflects an attorney's ethics and abilities. A former U.S. Marine and prosecutor, Kidder is managing partner in his St. Petersburg firm of Kidder & Bennett.

Kidder's legal colleagues offer nothing but praise for his professionalism, legal talent and temperament. He has substantial litigation experience and says he does at least four jury trials a year. Kidder also has the experience of having been both a prosecutor and defense attorney. He is widely viewed as fair, smart and able.

Bedinghaus, 33, is not ready for a seat on the bench. If she won, she would be the youngest judge in the state. In her nine years as a lawyer, Bedinghaus has only worked full-time for five. Over the last four years she has been employed part-time in the St. Petersburg office of the state attorney general, where she has done child support enforcement work. In addition, she says, she does occasional legal work for friends.

When she was a prosecutor in the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office, her absenteeism was an issue and her work was not considered distinguished. Bedinghaus is prematurely running for judge. She needs more experience as a lawyer before being ready to render judgments on others.

In Pinellas County Court Judge Group 17, the Times strongly recommends Nat Kidder.

[Last modified August 19, 2006, 01:52:52]