VOTE411 Voter Guide

My candidacy is defined by nearly a decade of high-level litigation and leadership within the criminal justice system. I currently serve as a Chief Assistant District Attorney, where I supervise prosecutors and manage a complex caseload. My experience spans the entire judicial spectrum. I have handled everything from misdemeanor traffic violations to sophisticated federal fraud cases as a former Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Texas. Beyond the courtroom, I obtained both JD and MBA degrees from the University of Houston. This background provides me with the unique advantage of making decisive, informed rulings and also the organizational expertise to manage a high-volume docket.

First, County Criminal Courts offer a critical window to intervene in low-level offenses before they escalate. I am committed to revamping our diversion and community supervision programs to ensure they are more than just paperwork. When a defendant chooses a path toward rehabilitation, I will be a hands-on partner in their success—actively connecting them with resources and monitoring their progress to reduce recidivism and strengthen our community. Second, judicial efficiency in my courtroom will mean more than just processing paperwork. I will maintain a disciplined scheduling order and remain strictly neutral in plea negotiations, ensuring my focus stays on the law.

I bring a variety of work and life experiences. I have been a licensed attorney for eighteen years. I have extensive trial and litigation experience. Currently, and for the past seven years I have served as Associate Judge for the 246th Family District Court. I have also practiced law as an Assistant District Attorney and in private practice: criminal defense, family law, child welfare, juvenile law and immigration law.

Additionally, I am an Adjunct Professor for Paralegal students.

I am also bilingual, speaking, reading and writing English and Spanish.

I am a first-generation college graduate and an immigrant growing up in the South Bronx. Harris County has been my home for over eighteen years.

Bail Reform. I want to ensure that the O’Donnell consent decree continues to be enforced and followed. I am committed to finding creative ways to keep the wheels of justice running and cases adjudicated promptly. The accused and the alleged victims need their day in Court. I plan to use my experience to adjudicate and close cases as quickly as possible so that people can move on with their lives and the jails are not overcrowded with people waiting for their day in court.

Rehabilitation over incarceration. When we talk about public safety and misdemeanor cases, it is important to see each individual and not just the crime. We must be responsive in a manner which develops solutions and not merely dispenses punishment, where appropriate.