VOTE411 Voter Guide

I earned my Juris Doctor from Thurgood Marshall School of Law and have practiced law for many years with a focus on civil litigation. My work includes representing individuals and businesses in complex real estate, construction, and commercial matters. I have prepared and argued motions, handled cases through trial and appeal, and worked directly with clients and opposing counsel to resolve disputes efficiently and fairly.

Civil courts face challenges related to efficiency, delays, and inconsistent case management. My plan is to promote clear scheduling orders, timely rulings, and active oversight of cases so matters move forward without unnecessary delay, while maintaining a professional courtroom where rules are applied consistently and all parties who appear before the court are treated with fairness, respect, and dignity.

I have held this office for the last seven (7) years. I routinely receive favorable marks in the Houston Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Poll. Before taking the bench, I was a trial lawyer and because of my trial experience as a practicing lawyer, I became a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates - an honorary organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the Constitutional right to a jury trial in civil cases. I am also board certified in personal injury trial law and civil trial law. I'm an adjunct professor and the Director of Mock Trial at the University of Houston Law Center. I am not only licensed in Texas, but also in California and before the United States Supreme Court.

1) Dealing with court's backlog. We recently kept 10 cases on standby every two week trial setting in order to give lawyers adequate notice that they could be called to trial while still ensuring that the Court continues to move cases even if some of the cases settle the day before. We have recently upped the number to 15 in order to have more cases ready each setting. 2) Hearing availability. I am one of the few civil courts in Harris County that has multiple trial settings a week. I have an oral hearing docket Tuesday through Friday. This allows parties more flexibility to get a hearing before me as well as allows me to try cases five days a week. We have recently increased the number of cases heard each day to get more cases in.