VOTE411 Voter Guide

Division 5 of the Sebastian County Circuit Court handles felony criminal matters, appeals on misdemeanor criminal cases, civil disputes with controversies of $25,000 or more, or appeals on small claims cases. Circuit Courts touch more of our daily lives than many realize. If you drive a car, own or patronize a business, sign a contract, remodel your home, buy or sell property, or even rent—these everyday situations can end up in Circuit Court. These decisions affect your family, your finances, and your future. I understand how important these outcomes are, and that’s why I’m running to bring the level of attention, detail, and focus that the position requires.

With 16 years of broad legal experience, I have stood in many roles and on both sides of our justice system — as a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, and civil litigator representing both plaintiffs and defendants. I have been entrusted to represent individuals, small businesses, and Fortune 500 companies in complex litigation. That depth of experience matters in Circuit Court when its decision impact people's lives in very real and lasting ways. You want to know that the judge hearing your case understands the human side of being a party in a lawsuit or being involved in any case before the Court. You want to know that your Judge has been there as an attorney and has litigated and tried many jury trials, as I have.

I’m running for Sebastian County Circuit Court Judge because I believe every person deserves a courtroom that is fair, impartial, competent, diligent, and respectful. I understand how deeply the decisions made in our courts impact people, families, and businesses. Our community deserves a judge who will listen carefully, apply the law with thoroughness and integrity, and lead with steady, principled judgment. If elected, I intend to approach every case with the utmost seriousness, spend time thoroughly reviewing all pleadings and motions filed with the court, carefully researching the reviewing all applicable laws and cases, and taking my time to render a correct and just decision so that the public has confidence in the right outcome.

I handle 50% of the felony docket and 30% of the civil docket. I sign search warrants, probable cause affidavits, take pleas from criminal defendants, as well as conduct civil and criminal jury trials, conduct petition to revoke hearings, and handle hearings on civil motions. I set bail for criminal defendants, and sign 20 -30 orders a day regarding the administration of justice. I also conduct jury orientation for new jurors. I explain how jury trials are conducted and what role they play in the judicial process. Each Spring, I bring grade schools into the courtroom to educate them on the judicial branch of government and give them the opportunity to ask any question they want about the legal system.

I have practiced law for 37 years including 8 years on the bench. I am a former prosecutor and have tried serious felony cases, including a capital murder case. I have also worked as a part-time public defender. I have conducted numerous civil trials as both a plaintiff's attorney, and defense counsel. I have practiced corporate law, handled probate cases, and done financial and estate planning. I have handled almost every type of domestic relations cases there is, including divorces, guardianships, and adoptions. My first year on the bench I heard dependency neglect cases involving juveniles who were at risk. I have practiced almost every type of law there is to practice over the course of nearly 40 years.

In our system of justice, litigants have the right to represent themselves in court if they so choose to do so. I have a fair number of people in my court that make that choice. The downside for those litigants is that they are bound by the same rules of civil procedure and rules of evidence that attorneys are bound by. I would like to develop a small handbook for self-represented parties that explains in simple terms some of the basic rules they need to know in order to represent themselves.