VOTE411 Voter Guide

I have practiced law for 42 years - including 300+ motions, depositions, hearings, and trials. Civil and commercial litigation, environmental law, consumer law, real estate law, contract law, medical malpractice, summary court martial officer, administrative law judge, federal and state practice and appellate experience - state and federal.

Reducing back log and reducing the time from filing to mediation and trial. Reducing the back log, will require reading motions (discovery and for summary judgement), setting specific dates for discovery and summary judgment hearings, setting and requiring pre-trial conferences, setting cases for trial and proving not less than 12 hour notice. Making use of court reporters. Establishing a better working relationship with the court staff, bailiffs and court reporters. Jury trials and judge alone trials two weeks three months. Mandatory mediation. At pretrials, mandatory establishment of uncontested facts.

Over 7 successful years as a State judge, preceded by 22 years as the owner of a boutique law firm, and 10 years as a civil litigation paralegal have uniquely qualified me to continue serving as judge. As judge, I am proven. I provide intelligent, sound, fair and impartial rulings in a timely manner. I rule with high character, integrity, and compassion. I have traveled the world and understand that people need to be seen in order to be treated fairly. As the Civil District Court judge with the most trial verdicts since 2019, the most jury verdicts in 2025, and the most nonjury verdicts in 2025, I interact with a lot of people with varied backgrounds. I strive to make each person understand I care about them and how they are treated.

Continuing to INCREASE access to justice and providing EQUAL access to justice are 2 pressing issues. As the current judge, I INCREASE access to justice every day by being creative & innovative. Thinking outside of the box has allowed litigants from all over the world to have their day in the 270th court without being crippled by high travel expenses, closed borders, or unnecessary time away from their families. Additionally, one of the most effective ways I provide EQUAL access to justice is by giving free copies of the court's official record to the litigants. I understand that many litigants are not able to pay the high costs of obtaining the court's record and end up being denied the chance to appeal their case to a higher court.