While I enjoy my current law practice, I am ready to take on a new challenge. I believe that my twenty-one years of experience in a wide variety of practice areas will enable me to fairly and impartially consider the variety of cases that I will be hearing as a General Sessions Court Judge. Throughout my career, I’ve seen firsthand how important a fair, efficient, and respectful courtroom is to families and businesses. I want to serve Knox County by ensuring that every person who enters the courtroom is treated with dignity and that justice is administered fairly and consistently.
I have practiced law for 21 years in Knox County and surrounding counties. As part of my practice, I have represented those going through divorce, victims of employment discrimination, victims of domestic violence, those charged with criminal offenses, both tenants and landlords in landlord/tenant disputes, consumers who have been the victim of unfair and deceptive trade practices, and tort victims. This wide range of legal experience will enable me to fairly and impartially decide the various types of cases that will come before me as a General Sessions Court Judge. This experience has also given me a deep understanding of how court decisions affect real families and our community.
I believe the core responsibilities of a General Sessions Court judge are to ensure that everyone who appears before the court is heard, respected, and treated equally. Due process and equal protection under the law are core constitutional principles that must be strictly adhered to by anyone assuming this position. General Sessions Court judges must apply the law fairly, treat every person with dignity and respect, and ensure that each case is decided thoughtfully, impartially, and based solely on the facts and the law.
My 21 years of experience in representing clients has taught me to listen carefully to what people have to say about their case. This experience has also given me a deep understanding of how court decisions affect real families and our community. As judge, I would utilize this experience to apply the law fairly, treat every person with dignity and respect, and ensure that each case is decided thoughtfully, impartially, and based solely on the facts and the law.
My top priorities as Judge will be
1) to ensure that everyone who appears before the court is afforded due process and equal protection under the law as required by both our state and federal constitutions;
2) to prioritize deciding cases in a fair and impartial manner; and
3) to ensure that cases are adjudicated in a timely manner.
My 21 years of legal experience across a wide range of practice areas have given me a deep understanding of how court decisions affect real families and our community. In General Sessions Court, rulings on bail, pretrial release, debtor-creditor matters, landlord-tenant disputes, and other cases often create ripple effects far beyond the courtroom. As Judge, I will serve Knox County by treating every person with dignity, applying the law fairly and consistently, and making thoughtful decisions that strengthen both families and our community.
I am seeking to retain the position of General Sessions Court Judge not because I am a career politician, but because I am a career public servant and these specific courts, this work, and this community matter to me. I have spent my entire 30-year legal career practicing in these courts, first as a private attorney, then as a prosecutor and now as a judge. I am invested in this court system, and I understand and respect the role of every person present in the court, from the defendants, victims, witnesses, civil litigants, and attorneys to court clerks and officers. I am running for election because I care deeply about the integrity of the General Sessions Courts, the impact of these courts, and the trust our community places in them.
I began my legal career in private practice, where I handled civil, personal-injury, and domestic cases, represented indigent criminal and juvenile defendants, and served as guardian ad litem for vulnerable adults and children. I then served as an Assistant District Attorney General for over 25 years. I have practiced in all the Knox County Criminal Courts and many of the Civil Courts. I prosecuted thousands of cases and effectively managed large and demanding caseloads daily. One of the most meaningful accomplishments of my career was building the first Elder Abuse Special Prosecution Unit in Tennessee and helping to draft and lobby for new legislation that strengthened protections for elderly and vulnerable adult victims in Tennessee.
A judge must respect and honor the judicial office as a public trust and must conduct themselves in such a way as to act with integrity, impartiality and competence. Also, a judge must have a strong understanding of the law, as well as patience, fairness and respect for every individual standing before them. He or she also must be prepared, efficient and able to make tough decisions. Finally, a judge must act in such a way so that the rule of law always stands above personal opinion, public pressure, and politics.
I care about people and their lives. I am a dedicated public servant who has been serving this community both professionally and personally for decades. I work hard, show up prepared and have gained the trust of the individuals who work with me. Every day I commit to be patient, fair and respectful to everyone who comes before the bench. I am also committed to making prompt, consistent and fair decisions. I believe in personal accountability and upholding the rule of law. I also understand that every defendant, victim, or witness has a unique story that they bring with them to court. It is very important to me that individuals in court have an opportunity to be heard and to ask questions so they understand what is happening with their case.
1. Know, apply and uphold the rule of law fairly and impartially by listening to the facts of each case, and then applying the law and making prompt, consistent decisions without regard to personal opinion, public pressure or politics.
2. Protect Constitutional Rights and ensure Due Process and allow every individual who has a legal interest in a proceeding to be heard.
3. Conduct court in way where time is highly valued, but justice is not rushed because behind every case number is a human being and that person's case is the most important case on the docket to them. Court must be conducted as efficiently as possible while still protecting the rights of the folks who appear in these courts.
Having spent decades in the courtroom, I have acquired the skills and institutional knowledge to manage the challenges of large and fast-paced dockets fairly and efficiently. I understand the General Sessions Courts and the individuals who appear in those courts, as well as the dedicated staff and attorneys who work there. I will apply the law fairly without favor or bias. I am a proud mother of 3 adult children, a longtime member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, and an active member of this community. I have served on the board of directors for four local nonprofit organizations and have supported many others. I have the heart of a public servant and I would be honored to continue to serve our community as your General Sessions Court Judge.
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