On Sunday, June 7, 2026, Fix the Court filed a complaint against Ninth Circuit Judge Ryan Nelson. The complaint stems from a parking lot confrontation in Idaho Falls, Idaho, which resulted in a criminal battery charge for Judge Nelson.
The incident occurred on April 2, when Judge Nelson was involved in a dispute over a parking space. According to police records and surveillance video, Nelson allegedly removed the other person’s eyeglasses, threw them across the parking lot, stomped on the glasses, grabbed the individual’s phone, and repeatedly used offensive language. Local authorities charged Nelson later that month.
Nelson’s attorney stated that the judge would address the charges through Idaho’s judicial system, emphasizing that the criminal case is only one aspect of the situation.
Fix the Court argues that Nelson’s conduct violated Canon 1 of the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges, which mandates that judges uphold high standards of conduct both on and off the bench. The organization also expressed concern over the two-month delay between the April incident and its public disclosure in June.
This situation is being compared to a previous incident earlier this year involving E.D. Michigan Judge Tom Ludington, who faced a DUI charge that was disclosed months after it occurred. Fix the Court views this as a disturbing pattern and stresses the importance of prompt disclosure of incidents involving federal judiciary members to maintain public confidence in the courts.
Through this complaint, the Ninth Circuit is being asked to review Nelson’s conduct and determine if disciplinary action is warranted.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
