I bring nearly three decades of courtroom experience as a former prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, and federal CJA panel attorney. I have handled thousands of misdemeanor and felony cases, including jury trials of capital murder to sexual assault and DWI. My experience on both sides of the aisle provides balanced judgment, fairness, and respect for the rule of law. I am known for sound judgment, preparedness, and treating all who appear before the Court with dignity and professionalism.
Speciality Courts are among the most effective tools in our justice system because they combine judicial oversight with treatment, supervision, and community resources. Drug and DWI Courts reduce repeat offenses, Veterans Courts address service-related trauma, Mental Health Courts divert individuals into care, and Reflejo Court has achieved remarkable reductions in reoffending. I support all Speciality Courts and would advocate increased funding, consistent standards, and careful expansion.
I would hope the County Court-at-Law system impacts all economic classes equally, but the reality is that it does not. Economic disparities affect access to legal representation, the ability to post bond, transportation, time away from work, and access to treatment or support services. These factors can influence outcomes and the pace of a case. As judge, I would work diligently to minimize these impacts and promote fairness, consistency, and equal justice for all who appear before the court.
I have been an ordained minister for 27 years. In my pastoral role, marriages I perform requires premarital counseling over multiple sessions. Because courthouse marriages typically occur in a single appearance, and because County Court-at-Law judges are not required to perform marriage ceremonies, I would likely decline performing marriages as part of my judicial duties. This approach would apply uniformly to all couples and is consistent with the voluntary nature of the service.
I support the Bexar Gives Back program when appropriate safeguards and oversight are in place. For nonviolent offenders, structured work programs can promote accountability, reduce unnecessary incarceration, and allow individuals to contribute positively to the community. Because most nonviolent offenders will ultimately be reintroduced into society, providing opportunities to build work habits and responsibility can improve outcomes while maintaining public safety and judicial supervision.
As a practicing attorney for the last 8 years, I have accrued experience in criminal defense at the municipal, misdemeanor, felony, and appellate levels. I understand the nuances of both private practice and working for a non-profit organization, specializing in the cross issues that come with criminal defense, immigration and family law. Working for a firm that offers bail bond services has also given me invaluable insight and perspective of criminal defense and the future of bail bond law.
I have a tremendous respect for all of the speciality courts, but the misdemeanor drug and DWI courts specifically seem to have the most successful structure and outcomes. Primarily because they accept defendants with some prior offenses on their record, and seem to understand the balance between treating substance use while addressing the underlying criminal case. I have identified a need for a "Young Adult Court," which would address the 17-25 age range where defendants can still be reached.
I have found that there is definitely a socio-economic disparity which directly impacts a defendant's likelihood of success. Specifically, the economic burden of pre-trial conditions and length of time that a case takes to work its way through the system needs to be accounted for. Many defendants lack transportation to monthly court dates for extended periods of time, lack childcare, lack employment with PTO time, and lack the money to meet requirements such as GPS monthly fees and high bonds.
Absolutely! And I can do them in Spanish as well! I am uncomfortable with the idea of charging for the ceremony, and if elected plan to provide this as a free service for any who have a marriage license and the will to say I do!
Bexar Gives Back has been a fantastic program which my firm utilizes regularly. From its inception, it identified a part of the demographic that would not benefit from prolonged time in the Bexar County Jail, while simultaneously holding defendants accountable by requiring that they logon every Thursday and perform work detail every Saturday. The program allows for accountability because it still requires a plea or conviction, but avoids adding to the overpopulation at the jail.
