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>>> THROUGHOUT THE ZIMMERMAN
TRIAL JUDGE DEBRA NELSON HAS
BEEN SHOWN TO BE TOUGH AND
CALLED OUT LAWYERS FOR NOT
OBEYING RULES OF HER COURTROOM.
HOW JUDGE NELSON LAYS DOWN THE
LAW.
RANDI KAYE REPORTS.
>> Reporter: JUDGE DEBRA NELSON
HARDLY NOTICES THE CAMERAS IN
HER COURTROOM.
SHE'S TOO BUSY SEE PUTTING
ATTORNEYS IN THEIR PLACE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKING A
SPEAKING OBJECTION.
>> YOU CAN'T MAKE AN OBJECTION
TO YOUR OWN QUESTION.
I HAVE TOLD COUNSEL BEFORE,
FIRST OF ALL, NOBODY TALKS OVER
THE OTHER.
PLEASE DON'T GO OFF FOCUS HERE.
>> NO, NO, NO --
>> DON'T NO, NO, NO ME, EITHER.
>> Reporter: IT MAY BE A TURNOFF
TO SOME BUT TO A CNN ANALYST
THAT PRESENTED CASES BEFORE
JUDGE NELSON, IT'S A BREATHE OF
FRESH AIRPLANE.
>> THIS CASE COULD HAVE EASILY
UNRAVELLED AND IMPLODED.
THE JUDGE WAS GOING TO HAVE NO
PART OF IT.
SHE WILL LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHO
IS IN CHARGE AND IT WILL BE HER.
>> Reporter: JUDGE NELSON WASN'T
ORIGINALLY CHOSEN TO HEAR THIS
CASE.
SHE REPLACED ANOTHER JUDGE WHO
THE DEFENSE CLAIMED HAD A BIAS
AGAINST ZIMMERMAN.
SHE'S BEEN SERVING ON THE BLENC
SINCE 19 99.
SHE EARNED HER LAW DEGREE FROM
SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW.
SHE TENDS TO AGREE MORE WITH THE
STATE, WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR
A JUDGE, SOMETHING ON DISPLAY
AGAIN TODAY AS SHE CLASHED WITH
DEFENSE ATTORNEY DON WEST OVER
JURY INSTRUCTIONS.
>> I AM NOT GIVING THAT
INSTRUCTION.
>> IT'S AN ERROR TO NOT INSTRUCT
THIS JURY PROPERLY ON THE LAW.
>> YOU CONTINUALLY DISAGREE WITH
THIS COURT EVERY TIME I MAKE A
RULING.
IF I HAVE MADE A MISTAKE IN THIS
CASE, YOU WILL APPEAL.
THIS IS MY RULING ON THIS ISSUE.
>> Reporter: BUT IT WAS THIS
MOMENT AFTER A HEARING LATE INTO
THE NIGHT THAT WILL FOREVER BE
CEMENTED IN TRIAL WATCHER'S
MINDS.
>> I'M NOT PHYSICAL ABLE TO KEEP
UP THIS PACE MUCH LONGER.
IT'S 10:00 AT NIGHT.
WE HAD FULL DAYS EVERY DAY.
WEEKENDS, DEPOSITIONS AT NIGHT.
>> Reporter: SHE SIMPLY DECIDED
IT WAS TIME TO GO.
SHE MAY NOT BE WARM AND FUZZY
BUT JUDGE DEBRA NELSON IS ALWAYS
ON HER GAME.
>> WHEN THERE IS A DIFFICULT
ARGUMENT, SHE SAID I'LL GO STUDY
IT.
THAT NIGHT SHE DID OR THAT
WEEKEND SHE DID AND CAME TO
COURT PREPARED.