I have been an assistant prosecuting attorney for 17 of my 19 years of practice. I am currently a Major Crimes Prosecutor and my main responsibility is prosecuting capital cases and cases that are considered "high-profile" or media cases. I am also the head felony Drug Court prosecutor while also being part of the treatment courts team, including sobriety, mental health and Veteran's courts. During my two years of private practice, I handled civil lawsuits, criminal defense, landlord/tenant and traffic cases. I do great deal of charity work within our community, especially through my memberships with the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, Waterford FO Eagles, and the Pontiac/Waterford Elks.
My practice right now is exclusively criminal in nature, focused on Major Crimes, including everything from warrant review and charging through preliminary examination, motion practice, evidentiary hearings and jury trials of murders, robberies, carjackings and other high profile cases. As such, I represent the interests of the People of the State of Michigan, working to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity for justice.
I have dedicated my entire career to public service. I am in court almost everyday, fighting for justice for the victims of crime. I know first-hand how actions and decisions in a courtroom can affect not only the case, but the people involved in that case. The citizens of Waterford deserve to have a judge who has been in courtroom, making those split-second decisions everyday, not watching from the sidelines.
My experience is unmatched in this race, having conducted almost 200 jury trials, hundreds of preliminary exams and evidentiary hearings and handling thousands of cases during my 19 years of practice. Equally important is my compassion and understanding that, when the case is concluded, there are still people who are affected by what happens within that courtroom.
I have 39 years of legal experience in civil, criminal, family, probate, landlord/tenant, small claims, and juvenile law. I am a licensed attorney in the State of Michigan and in the United States District Court - Eastern Division. My law degree is from Wayne State University (2002). I have a bachelor's degree in political science from Oakland University (1999) and a paralegal degree from Ferris State College (1987). From 2002 -2005, as a general practice attorney, I represented youth and vulnerable adults as a court appointed attorney. Since 2005, my work has been solely for the judiciary assisting judges in resolving disputes, advising judges and court staff on the law and legal process, and assisting the chief judge in managing court employees and streamlining courthouse operations.
For over 20 years my attorney work has been in the independent non-partisan judicial branch of government resolving disputes and providing access to justice for litigants. For over ten years, I sat at the side of judges in the family division of circuit court as their right-hand legal advisor. The judges and I listened to testimony, evaluated credibility, and applied the law to facts received into evidence to resolve disputes timely. I put judicial decisions into written form. I also helped parties settle issues before trials. As a court administrator, I oversee court operations, draft processes for new legislation, facilitate outreach programs, address employee conflicts/concerns, negotiate with unions, and liaise with other county-elected officials to provide fair and efficient court operations.
District courts are known as neighborhood courts. It may be a person's first contact with a judge to respond to the allegation of violating a law or for help in resolving a civil dispute in which they never expected to be involved. My attorney background is in the prevention and resolution of disputes. For over 20 years I have been trained to evaluate all sides of a conflict, getting to the root of the issues, so that arguments can be resolved peacefully. I believe in the rule of law and that people who willfully jeopardize the peace and safety of others should be held accountable for their actions This is what judges do daily. This is what I have been practicing for over 20 years.
