VOTE411 Voter Guide

I am seeking reelection as the 10th Division Circuit Judge in the 6th Judicial Circuit, a court of general jurisdiction and trial court. Under the administrative plan, Division 10 handles half of the juvenile caseload in Pulaski and Perry Counties. My duties include presiding over dependency-neglect (foster care), delinquency, truancy, and family in need of services (FINS) cases, overseeing hearings and trials, ensuring due process, and making decisions affecting child safety and family stability while balancing accountability with rehabilitation. I also supervise a court staff of eight juvenile officers, five in-office personnel, and one support staff member to ensure efficient operations and effective service to youth and families.

My qualifications are grounded in public service and hands-on experience in juvenile justice. While attending Bowen School of Law, I focused on programs addressing housing, poverty, and access to justice. I began my legal career handling dependency-neglect cases at the Arkansas Department of Human Services, gaining firsthand knowledge of how the system impacts families. I am a Certified Court Manager and was selected for a national judicial learning cohort focused on keeping children safely with families whenever possible. In my first five years on the bench, I have presided over more than 6,000 hearings, always working to protect children, strengthen families, and serve our community with fairness and compassion.

In my second term, I will focus on strengthening community partnerships and refining court practices to improve efficiency and accessibility. I will do this by holding quarterly judicial leadership meetings with key stakeholders to address trends, encourage collaboration, and reduce siloed operations, while pursuing additional court-based partnerships and pilot programs to expand services for families. We are currently developing a mentoring pilot for court-involved youth.

I will also continue providing internship opportunities for law and college students and offering teens meaningful work experience through our juvenile probation and intake departments, helping build future talent while supporting youth development.