Kelly L Neel

As a retired attorney, I really appreciate this judge. I was before her once [on paper] during COVID. She was fair, well- prepared and admirable. Also she issued her ruling promptly. Another 2 times I was before her on a complex matter with my attorney and she was equally great.

Neel was presiding over my family law matter wherein I gave birth to the child at age 12 after being raped. Neel contended that the sex was consensual dispite having been plied alchohol to the point of passing out by my rapist who was six years my senior. Neel downplayed my experiences of sexual and physical violence despite a previous DVRO finding wherein another Judical Officer found my abuse to be credible, and even made a finding that my rapist had carved his initials into my back when I was 14 and he was 20. My child was also listed as a person protected by the DVRO. Unfortunately my rapist has not demonstrated fundamental behavioral change to address the cause of his violent behaviors and as a result my child continued to be subject to abuse. My child is 9 and has made consistent disclosures of abuse that Neel found to be "nothing more than fantastical stories". Neel provided my rapist with Temporary Physical Custody after she provided my rapist legal advice while on the bench by telling my rapist what evidence he needed to file for her to modify the order. Within months a Juvenile Dependency case was opened. My child's abuse could have been prevented if Neel had listened to my child's pleas for help, and if Neel would have taken a step back from her own biases. She is by far the worst judge I have ever come across and I feel deeply sorry for any child who is at the mercy of her poor decision making. I don't think Neel will ever understand the harm and detriment her rulings have caused in the life of my innocent child.

Kelly Neel does not know local rules, she gives advice one litigant as appose to the one she's less favorable to while presiding over the case.

Judge Neel does not comply with the judicial assignments and rotations. Humboldt County recently had rotations and all of the Family Law Cases were assigned to Killorians Courtroom. Judge Neel was assigned to the Criminal Matters yet she kept one Family Law Case citing judicial interest in the matter. It's inappropriate that a family law case with sensitive information involving a minor child is being heard among Criminal Proceedings. Judge Neel cites the minor child's name when calling the matter in the presence of criminals that are pending arraignment. This is also inappropriate.

Judge Neel had no experience in civil litigation when she was appointed to the bench and it seemed she initially tried to work to learn it. But unfortunately she is a lazy judge and would prefer to rule without doing research or observing the law whoever makes the argument she likes and the one that will clear her desk is the one who will win in her court.

[Redacted] She worked in the District Attorney's Office in Humboldt County from 2012-2015. There she mostly handled sexual assault cases involving minors. She never held into account Christopher Fosnaugh who raped and impregnated two separate children spanning the dates she was in office. She is now presiding over the Family Law Case wherein the rapist is seeking custody. She has determined that the 12 year old child that was raped and impregnated was in a consenting relationship with the man 6 years her senior. This is unacceptable.

Judge Neel protects Child Rapists who impregnate children as young as aged 12, in Humboldt County. She does not protect the rights of victims seeking safety and accountability.