VOTE411 Voter Guide

I was an attorney in private practice for 23 years. As an attorney, I handled almost every type of case that comes before a common pleas judge. I litigated both criminal and civil cases, and workers compensation, bankruptcy and Social Security cases, in addition to domestic relations, juvenile and probate work. I argued appeals cases before the Ninth and Tenth District Court of Appeals, and the Ohio Supreme Court. I represented clients in the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. I advocated for the best interests of over a hundred children in the juvenile and domestic relations court system as a guardian ad litem. I am a trained mediator who has settled and resolved numerous cases for the courts. I have served as a court appointed arbitrator in civil cases. I bring a breadth of knowledge and experience to the bench, and decades of hard work as an attorney, advocating, evaluating, mediating, arbitrating, and litigating.

It is my honor and privilege to be the incumbent judge who currently holds this seat. I am seeking re-election to continue to serve this community as its judge in the Summit County Common Pleas Court. I was the presiding judge of the court in 2020. My experience as a magistrate and chief magistrate in domestic relations court, dealing with difficult and emotional cases, taught me how to control a courtroom, and how to handle cases fairly, impartially and expeditiously. It taught me how to apply the law to the evidence, and reach a reasonable, rational, and just decision. During my time on the bench, both as a magistrate and a judge, I have developed a reputation for fairness, hard work and integrity. I want to continue the good work I have already done and build upon that success. A special passion is my specialty court program, SCORR, that reduces recidivism in vulnerable populations while keeping young people out of prison, making our community safer and stronger.

One of the most significant challenges the court system faces today is an increasing lack of trust in the system from the public. This is primarily due to political attacks on the impartiality of judges. While the judiciary is still the branch of government most trusted by the public, that confidence has slipped in recent years. Personal attacks on judges, and demands that judges follow political orthodoxy rather than the law are increasing. As a judge, I have been targeted by my own party for being unwilling to allow partisan politics to dictate how I perform my duties. I have addressed these issues by simply refusing to bow to political pressure. Judges have to do the right thing, all the time, even when it’s difficult, uncomfortable, or unpopular. There is simply no substitute for integrity. I believe that the public values fair and impartial judges who adhere to their oath of office, and refuse to compromise judicial ethics, and I am proud to uphold those values.

In the criminal justice system, courts are ill equipped to deal effectively with the root causes of crime. The vast majority of criminal cases involve defendants who have mental health problems, substance abuse problems, or both. The average addict must engage in substance abuse treatment 5 times or more in order to achieve lasting sobriety. Managing mental health concerns with medication and/or therapy can be a lifelong commitment. If we deal with the root causes of crime, we can prevent a great deal of future criminal behavior. Unfortunately, necessary interventions are resource intensive, and take time. In addition, the individual with the problem has to be willing to cooperate and work hard on their issues. Many people with these problems simply are not willing or able to modify their behavior, precisely because of their problems. The court system is left with incarceration or community control to deal with a huge number of individuals who have treatable conditions.

My experience as a practicing attorney in the areas of criminal, family, probate, and eviction law has served me well. Additionally, I own and operate my private law practice, through which I represent retained and appointed clients across these specialties. The General Division of the Summit County Common Pleas Court has a large docket of criminal felony matters, an area in which I am particularly well versed through my work as a criminal defense attorney. I regularly appear in Summit County’s only adult felony drug court where I represent defendants in their efforts to gain sobriety and stability within the justice system. I also regularly represent survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence through contracts with The Ohio Domestic Violence Network and The Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, where I assist individuals and families who are pursuing justice within the legal system. I also consistently volunteer to provide free legal advice at CLAS.

I know firsthand the healing that can come from making better choices and finding rehabilitation through court services. I hope to inspire others who come from a tough background like myself, that you can empower yourself to rise above the circumstances into which you were born. I also bring a unique lived experience as a woman of color – a perspective missing from that bench. In the history of the Summit County Common Pleas Court General Division, for more than 180 years, we have had one black judge serve on that Division – and that was more than 20 years ago. A large population of those we serve come from diverse backgrounds and have no representation in that court.

An extremely high volume of cases, which create obstacles for access to justice, is one of the many major challenges that the courts face today. Large case volumes cause extraordinary wait times for people appearing before the court, less time to address the court on substantive matters, and delay in case resolution. I will address this by implementing active case management, virtual hearings when possible, and by enforcing strict deadlines to ensure that court appearances are productive and timely.

Rising costs is another major challenge that’s the courts face today because it has created economic instability for the community that it serves which has placed barriers to adequate transportation to & from court and the lack of funds to pay court costs, fines, and probation fees. I will address this by adopting flexible options for court appearances that promote employment, childcare and overcome obstacles in transportation.

Common barriers to justice include the high cost of legal representation and systemic bias against marginalized groups. Frequently those two issues are related, and lead to disparate treatment in the court amongst those who have difficulty accessing the court or finding representation and those who have no financial or other barriers. Judges and staff responsible for administering justice are required to address individuals who have a fear and mistrust of authority, language barriers and are victims of abuse and trauma. Working to eliminate bias for those who are economically disadvantaged and societally marginalized to make the system more accessible, inclusive and effective is the biggest challenge we face. People should leave the system feeling that they were treated fairly – even if their outcome isn’t what they wanted. And, defendants who are amenable to rehabilitation should receive timely and focused services to reduce recidivism.