VOTE411 Voter Guide

I practiced law primarily in Franklin County for fifteen years prior to taking the bench. I focused my legal practice on criminal defense and worked in several counties throughout the State, defending individuals charged with misdemeanor and felony crimes. I was on the board of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, an organization through which I mentored young lawyers and organized and instructed at defense bar CLE's. I have published several articles on topics in criminal law and was rated both a Rising Star and Super Lawyer from 2012-2020. I have dedicated my career to ensuring the fair administration of justice and I continue to do so on the bench.

I run our court’s Recovery Court docket, which is a specialized docket focused on polysubstance abuse. I am also part of our drug court diversion program which gives those with F4 and F5 drug offenses the opportunity to have their cases vacated and dismissed if they complete educational programming and sober support meetings. In 2021 I created Unleashing Potential (UP), a diversion docket for emerging adults between the ages of 18-24 that assists those young people in reaching specific goals to reduce recidivism. I know that in order to ensure individuals with drug and/or mental health issues don’t find themselves back in our system, we have to HELP them overcome their addictions and mental health issues. I ran on a promise that my goal was to get on the bench and help those who need it most, and leading Recovery Court and UP has truly helped me do just that. At the end of the day, our community is only as strong as those who need us most. I continue to be committed to ensuring that our community is safe, our system is efficient, and that we are focused on restorative rather than punitive justice. Of course, when necessary, our judges must protect the community by fashioning appropriate sentences for the individuals who violate the law. My number one priority is balancing these important interests in a fair and impartial way. I want to continue my work and my commitment to the Franklin County Municipal Court.

Franklin County Municipal Court, 2020-present

Saia & Piatt, Inc., Columbus, Ohio Associate Attorney, March 2010-December 2019

• Represent privately retained and court appointed clients charged with traffic, misdemeanor and felony criminal offenses across the State. • Participate in all aspects of client’s criminal and/or traffic case, including arraignment, pretrial, motion hearing, and trial and draft all pleadings and pretrial motions. • Conduct extensive research for and draft Appellate Briefs on behalf of clients and participate in Appellate oral arguments in various counties. • Plan, organize, market, and speak at Continuing Legal Education seminars across the State.

Ferron & Associates LPA, Columbus, Ohio Associate Attorney, February 2007-March 2010

• Participate in all aspects of labor and employment litigation and consumer law practice: interview clients, research legal issues and draft legal memoranda; draft discovery requests and responses; prepare for and participate in deposition taking and defense. • Develop trial preparation and mediation strategies, negotiate settlement terms and draft settlement and release agreements. • Draft pleadings, motions, responsive memoranda, and legal briefs in Federal and State Court, including the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Ohio Tenth District Court of Appeals, and the Ohio Supreme Court.

Whann & Associates, LLC, Dublin, Ohio Law Clerk, August 2003-October 2005 Associate Attorney, November 2005-January 2007

• Conducted automobile dealership compliance audits and responded to client queries regarding the same. • Drafted lease and sale agreements, motor vehicle dealer agreements, general release and settlement agreements, and all other legal documents as requested by clients. • Monitored legislative activity affecting the automotive industry and drafted regulatory and legislative summaries and updates for the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association; drafted Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communication Commission comments on proposed rules and regulations.

Local 67 International Association of Firefighters Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council Central Ohio Labor Council AFL-CIO Baptist Ministerial Alliance of Columbus

Columbus Bar Association, 5/5 Stars