About Colin Nelson

Colin T. Nelson worked for 40 years as a prosecutor and criminal defense lawyer in Minneapolis. He tried everything from speeding tickets to first degree murder. His writing about the courtroom and the legal system give the reader a "back door" view of what goes on, what's funny, and what's a good story. He has also traveled extensively and includes those locations in his mysteries. Some are set in Southeast Asia, Ecuador,Peru, and South Africa. Readers get a suspenseful tale while learning about new places on the planet. Colin is married, has two adult children, and plays the saxophone in various bands.

Seven Reasons Casey Anthony was found Not Guilty

People who followed the televised trial of Casey Anthony seemed to be convinced that she was guilty of killing her child–yet the jury, which heard the case, found her Not Guilty.

How could this happen?

In my 30+ years of trying criminal cases, both as a prosecutor and defense lawyer, I can tell you that it’s rare, …

Same Sex Marriages in the Courts

The Minnesota legislature has voted to put a new amendment to the state constitution on the ballot for next fall.  It would define marriage as the legal union between a man and a woman and not recognize same-sex marriages.

Even though the state already has a law defining legally recognized marriage, proponents still want the amendment.  Why?…

The Smallest Terrorist

People think the death of Osama bin Laden stopped one of the biggest killers in the world.  He’s nothing compared to one of the oldest, most widespread killers in the history of humans—the disease of small pox.

Found in the remains of Egyptian mummies and all over ancient Asia and China, the virus has probably killed more people …

Something Worse Than bin Laden

People think the death of Osama bin Laden stopped one of the biggest killers in the world.  He’s nothing compared to one of the oldest, most widespread killers in the history of humans—the disease of small pox.

Found in the remains of Egyptian mummies and all over ancient Asia and China, the virus has probably killed more people …

Has Bin Laden Beaten Us At Home?

Beyond the satisfaction that “justice” was done with the killing of Osama bin Laden, he left a legacy in our country and courts that is disturbing to me.

Is that legacy “beating” us now?

After 9/11, the White House and Congress (both parties) passed sweeping legislation which gave our investigatory agencies new powers of intrusion into our lives.  …

Measles Outbreak in Minneapolis

Health officials are battling an outbreak of measles spreading in the large Somali community in Minneapolis.  In Pennsylvania a case of measles is traced to an Indian child.  There’s a measles outbreak tracked to Maryland.  A potential measles outbreak is brewing in Boston.

What’s going on?

Measles has almost been eradicated from the United States.  So why is …

Public Employee Unions=Too Expensive?

Is a Public Employee’s Union in California raising the cost of the prison system?  Should the prisons be sold to private companies to save the states money?

In my last post, I explored the movement across the country to privatize the prison systems in many states.  We looked at the high cost of maintaining prisons and one of …