Melissa Nelson

Melissa serves as the State Attorney for Florida’s Fourth Judicial Circuit. She leads a group of over 300 people who represent the people of Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties, primarily in criminal matters. From 1997-2000, Melissa worked as an Assistant State Attorney where she prosecuted capital homicides, white collar matters, sex crimes, and crimes against children. In 2009, she joined McGuireWoods and worked in private practice for seven years.

Since taking office, Melissa has committed to employing new public safety measures, including the deployment of strategic prosecutorial initiatives. She also is committed to leading the implementation of modern criminal justice reforms and ensuring the office’s work is done in a fair, transparent manner for the people it serves. Melissa was recently inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers, is a member of the Chester Bedell Inn of Court, the Jacksonville Women’s Lawyers Association, and previously served on the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Fourth Judicial Circuit.

Melissa earned both her BA and JD from the University of Florida.