Campaign Phone
9047103120
For three decades I have worked in the legal field and after seeing our citizens receive unjust sentences, I would like to take my experience to the bench. As a judge, I would look at the facts and the individual before me to make the best decision for our community. Fortunately, we have a problem-solving court that focuses on mental health, substance abuse, and helping our veterans by giving the community a sense of security in advocating for others.
My experience as the director of problem-solving courts for the fourth judicial circuit of the Public Defender's Office has assisted in preparing me to help the individuals in the community. Working closely with people who have mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder, and drug addictions as well as traumatic brain injury has shown that treating the underlying causes results in the reduction of crimes and saves our community from unnecessary expenses of incarceration. My service as a pro bono attorney in the community also makes me aware of the problems in our community and programs that are available to assist our population.
Unfortunately, I do not believe that all citizens have adequate access to legal help within our current legal system. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel because I believe that informing our citizens about the pro bono opportunities in our community will provide greater access. Also, encouraging like-minded attorneys to give back through these pro bono agencies would have a positive impact for our citizens. In honor of America turning 250 years old this year, we need to hold true to our values of providing liberty and justice for all.
I believe the judiciary can maintain and improve public trust in the legal system by ensuring that citizens feel that they are being heard. Citizens want to believe that they are given the same opportunities as attorneys and police officers. Allowing the law and the facts as well as the person before the court to all be factors in a decision. Every voice should matter in the courtroom and as a county court judge, I will be listening.
Campaign Phone
904-848-7010
I believe our community deserves a judge who has personal and professional experience with individuals of all backgrounds, a judge who embodies integrity and is the same on the bench and off the bench, and a judge who will treat all litigants with dignity and respect. I was entrusted to serve our community as a General Magistrate and felt the uncertainty and tension of individuals appearing in a courtroom for the first time. I believe I was able to relieve some of the stress and anxiety of court appearances and would like to support our community members on a larger scale. I believe our community deserves a judge who seeks to promote public trust and confidence in the court system and is not driven by self promotion or other personal gain.
Judges should be good listeners, respectful, patient, firm, prepared, independent thinkers, and tempered. Having served as a Magistrate for a little more than four and a half (4½) years, I have learned how to exercise judicial restraint, especially those involving Self-Represented Litigants. I have taken steps to ensure consistency in my oral and written rulings, and I have upheld a respectable courtroom demeanor during virtual and in-person hearings. I recognize that many individuals want to feel heard. Providing that opportunity is essential to the court process and uplifts the integrity of the Court as a whole. If given the opportunity to serve as a Duval County Court judge, I would continue to uphold this practice.
In 2018, I transitioned to Jacksonville and developed the Family Law Assistance at Reduced Expense (FLARE) Program at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA). The purpose of the Program is to bridge the gap for families who earn too much to receive free legal services but who do not earn enough to pay the standard rate of $300+ per hour for family law assistance. This Program exists because there is a disparity in resources and is just one example of access. Our legal community and local bar associations continue to develop clinics and other programs through JALA and Three Rivers Legal Services that can be more highly utilized by community members. Educational workshops at local churches and neighborhood groups would also be beneficial.
Procedural fairness has always been important to me. In any case that I have presided over, I routinely provided a brief opening statement informing the parties of how the hearing would proceed and what issues would be addressed. I ensured that individuals were given adequate time to prepare for court. Each party was routinely given time to present their case and any argument. When ruling on the record, I often pulled up the governing statute or ordinance and analyzed that against the facts presented. Written rulings also included a complete analysis. This consistency in courtroom procedures helps individuals know that there is a standard process followed in all cases. I believe this level of consistency over time is what builds trust.
Campaign Phone
9048743503
I believe that elevation to judge is a natural progression of my commitment to serving Jacksonville. I currently serve as a Director at the State Attorney's Office and oversee one of the first divisions in the State of Florida to be dedicated to prosecuting abuse, neglect, and exploitation of the elderly. I believe Duval County deserves experienced and fair minded judges and that my personal qualities make me an exceptional candidate for the bench.
I am calm, even tempered, pleasant, humble, and experienced. I bring balance based on having worked over 18 years as a prosecutor and over four years as a criminal defense attorney.
I do not believe all citizens have access to legal help. I believe that the threshold to be declared indigent and therefore qualified to have the public defenders office appointed or to receive assistance from Jacksonville Area Legal Aid should be reviewed and adjusted higher to allow for more access.
Also, I am in favor of increasing the budget of public defenders offices in Florida. There is no denying that public defenders have high case counts which leads to some defendants being denied access to quality legal services.
The judiciary can maintain and improve public trust by first being transparent and consistent in sentencing and court rulings.
The judiciary can also increase public trust by being available and involved in the community. County Court Judge is the "People's Judge." As a prosecutor, I invest hours of my time in mentoring youth, speaking on panels, giving keynote addresses, and otherwise immersing myself into the community through several non-profits. My goal has been to increase public trust in the state attorney's office. My community engagement efforts for the purpose of increasing trust in the judicial system will not change when I am on the bench.
