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Before becoming a judge, I prosecuted murders, robberies, rapes and other serious criminal cases. I have navigated complicated legal issues and I know how to handle both jury and non-jury trials. I have also guided many very vulnerable victims through the legal system in their search for justice. This has taught me that achieving justice requires more than just knowledge of the law; it requires compassion and empathy for people from all walks of life, which I believe I have in abundance.
As a judge, I must decide each case based on the law and the unique facts and circumstances of the individuals before me. In the juvenile justice system, the focus is on rehabilitation of the child who is the Respondent. This requires a holistic view of the case in deciding what is the just outcome, including not just the incident in question, but also the child and the child’s life circumstances, including the child’s background and life-challenges.
Diversion programs such as the Drug and Mental Health Courts in Montgomery County are excellent programs for providing the necessary services to many individuals who need these programs to be rehabilitated. In my experience as an Assistant State's Attorney, I recommended these programs for many individuals. Often times, these are the exact services that people need to put themselves on a better path forward. I am proud to work in a county that embraces these programs.
During the COVID crisis, many cases got put on hold, and as a result the system is still trying to resolve this backlog. Litigants should not have to wait as long as they do for such important cases as custody of a child to be heard, for example. In order to tackle this problem, we need more personnel, such as judges, clerks and interpreters, to name a few.
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I litigated family law cases, including divorce, custody, child support, parentage, adoption, contracts, alimony, business and property issues, domestic violence and de facto parent. I was trained as a mediator and collaborative attorney and have a solid understanding of courtroom procedure and the rules of evidence derived from my practice. I spent over 16 years working in the areas of adoption and surrogacy and bring compassion, a calm temperament and passion for justice to the fore.
Due to Maryland Rule 18-104.4, I can’t answer this question from a public policy perspective as Judges cannot make commitments regarding issues that may come before the court. Decisions are based on the individual facts and circumstances of each case. I understand that the overarching goal of juvenile court is rehabilitation and a judge must determine an appropriate result for each young person. It is beneficial to have as many options as possible.
Diversion programs are incredibly helpful to people who have mental health or substance abuse challenges and should be utilized when appropriate, based on the facts before the Court. Both the Mental Health and Drug Courts within our courthouse have made decisions that resulted in hundreds of successful outcomes for those who qualified for and embraced the opportunity provided through those diversion programs. These programs have saved lives and helped thousands of people.
The need for more resources is a challenge across the state and nationwide. The pandemic resulted in a delay in cases getting before a Judge, and the court is working hard to catch-up and meet the needs of litigants. We need more mediation and ADR options as well as attorneys to assist in pro bono programs. To leapfrog to where we want to be, the court is continually looking to hire qualified courtroom clerks, interpreters and other staff and to expand its programs that serve the community.
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I have one of the most varied legal backgrounds of any judge in Maryland. I represented people in civil matters including contract disputes, easements, negligence and fraud cases, landlord-tenant disputes (residential and commercial), and defamation cases. I have tried nearly every type of criminal case from murder to traffic tickets. I have represented both mothers and fathers in custody and divorce matters. Most importantly, I have a calm demeanor to manage the big emotions of the courtroom.
It is important for judges to decide each case based on the individual facts and circumstances of that case and not be influenced by political or other considerations. Juvenile cases are no different. The goal of juvenile court is rehabilitation not punishment. For judges to fashion an appropriate and tailored rehabilitative outcome for each young person, it is beneficial to have as many options as possible including drug treatment, diversion, and mental health counseling.
Diversion programs are a miraculous benefit for people with behavioral and substance abuse issues. I served as the public defender’s Drug Court representative for 3 years. That experience gave me the opportunity to have a small role in helping scores of people overcome their addiction and become productive members of our community. I am still in touch with some of them. It is humbling to see what they have accomplished. Drug Court Graduation is one of the most inspiring events at the courthouse.
One of the greatest challenges is a lack of resources. Despite closing more cases last year than were filed, the court still is backlogged from the pandemic. People need to wait too long for their cases to be heard. There needs to be more courtroom clerks, interpreters, judges, and other courthouse staff.
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I represented clients in complex high-stakes business litigation, and handled appeals in criminal cases, family law matters, and real estate cases. Working on such a wide range of cases prepared me well for the bench. I was also trained as a mediator and the circuit court frequently appointed me to help parties settle cases. That service helped me develop a fair and calm demeanor. I also served on nonprofits’ boards of directors and provided pro bono representation to low-income clients.
That is a crucial policy issue for the legislative and executive branches. Candidates for election to a judicial office, however, are bound by Rule 18-104.4 of the Maryland Code of Judicial Conduct. We cannot make commitments, pledges, or promises regarding issues that are likely to come before the court. We must fairly consider each individual case that comes before us, on its own merit, without appearing to have prejudged any issue. But incarceration of juveniles must be a last resort.
Diversion programs are wonderful tools that help individuals with substance abuse or mental health issues address those challenges, get their lives back on the right path, and minimize contact and involvement with the criminal justice system. Our court’s programs have served those objectives and have literally saved lives. By helping folks become contributing members of society, those programs serve an important role for the individuals directly involved, as well as the entire community.
When the pandemic struck, courts had to close. That caused a tremendous backlog of cases that we are still trying to address. Mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution are always favored, as they help people solve their problems without time-consuming and expensive litigation. They are especially important tools now. The number of self-represented parties is also a challenge, which could begin to be addressed by increased participation by lawyers in pro bono activities.
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I have been practicing civil and criminal law in Montgomery County for over 32 years. I am a former first lieutenant in the Military Police Corps and a former Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). I have represented numerous clients in cases across Maryland, in the District of Columbia, and in the State of New York. I have learned the practices that we need to embrace to improve our justice system and the practices that we need to abandon to make our justice system work better for all of us.
Bamigboye Olurotimi said, “Show me a youth without hope, and I will show you a youth without a future.” According to the Justice Policy Institute, Maryland incarcerates a higher percentage of its young Black males than any other state in the country because of the extreme sentences that the judges give them. Extreme sentences do not reduce crime. Being fair, firm, and consistent is what reduces crime. Accountability doesn't always have to mean putting someone in jail and throwing away the key.
Restorative justice is a diversion program that has been shown to be quite effective in reducing crime and other socially undesirable behaviors. Restorative Justice emphasizes repairing the harm to the community that the unwanted behavior caused. It has been tested in some places in Maryland with great results. Restorative justice requires that the wrongdoer take responsibility for his or her actions. This has been shown to reduce crime, make the victim feel better, and save taxpayers money.
Women's voices are routinely ignored, to our detriment. We continue to use the same systems to address crime even though many of those systems do not work. Bryan Stevenson said that the criminal justice system “treats you better if you’re rich and guilty than if you’re poor and innocent.” We incarcerate 25% more young Black males than Mississippi. If crime is going up, why continue to do the same thing? The old guard is failing to meet the challenges that the modern court system is facing.
