VOTE411 Voter Guide

My qualifications to serve as a judge extend far beyond my law degree. I have devoted my career to public service, the courtroom, and the fair administration of justice. I served as a Florida Highway Patrol officer and lieutenant, an Assistant Public Defender, and an attorney representing individuals, businesses, and public institutions in complex legal matters. These experiences have given me a balanced understanding of the justice system from multiple perspectives.

I have tried cases, managed demanding legal responsibilities, and made difficult decisions where the consequences mattered deeply to real people. I have also served my community through the United States Coast Guard Reserve, on public oversight and advisory boards, and as an adjunct professor teaching constitutional and criminal law.

Most importantly, I understand that a judge must be prepared, patient, independent, and respectful to everyone who enters the courtroom. My experience in law enforcement, military service, public defense, civil litigation, teaching, and community leadership has prepared me to apply the law fairly, treat every person with dignity, and make decisions based on the facts—not politics, pressure, or personal preference.

My judicial philosophy is grounded in fairness, restraint, preparation, and respect for the rule of law. A judge’s role is not to create policy or decide cases based on personal beliefs, but to apply the law faithfully to the facts presented.

Every person who enters a courtroom deserves to be heard, treated with dignity, and given a fair opportunity to present his or her case. Fairness does not always mean the same outcome, but it does require the same careful consideration, patience, and respect for every litigant.

I believe judges must be independent, impartial, and willing to make difficult decisions without regard to politics, public pressure, or personal preference. They must protect constitutional rights, enforce the law consistently, and explain their rulings clearly.

I also believe compassion and accountability can coexist. A judge should understand the real-world impact of a decision while remaining faithful to the law. My goal would be to maintain an orderly and respectful courtroom, listen carefully, decide promptly, and ensure that every ruling is based on the law and the evidence.

A high caseload requires discipline, preparation, and strong courtroom management, but efficiency should never come at the expense of fairness. I would balance both by reviewing matters in advance, identifying the issues that truly require judicial attention, setting clear expectations for counsel, and enforcing reasonable deadlines consistently.

I would use case management tools to narrow disputes, encourage meaningful communication between the parties, and resolve routine matters promptly so that more time can be devoted to complex or contested issues. At the same time, I would remain flexible when a case presents unusual facts, serious consequences, or a genuine need for additional consideration.

Every litigant deserves to be heard and to know that the court understood the issues before ruling. Efficiency means reducing unnecessary delay, repetition, and confusion—not rushing people through the system. My goal would be to maintain an organized courtroom, issue timely decisions, and give each case the attention required by its facts, the law, and the rights at stake.

Beyond a law degree, I have practiced in Circuit Court for 18 years, appearing daily at times. I have tried over 65 cases, trained young attorneys new to felony division, and supervised as many as 20 attorneys in an office of over 200 attorneys.

My trial experience and dedication to the community make me well suited for the Judiciary. There is a proverb that states: “Smooth seas, do not make skillful sailors.” I have tried cases ranging from 2nd Degree Misdemeanors through 1st Degree Murder with the Death Penalty waived; and most of my trials have been Jury Trials. I have learned many legal and life lessons through those trials.

My temperament is well suited for the judiciary. Throughout my career I have practiced law with civility and respect for opposing counsels. While trial practice is adversarial, the legal system relies upon the attorneys not becoming adversaries. I have built my reputation daily in court zealously advocating for my clients, while respecting the process and opposing counsel. Because of this I gained the endorsement of the Miami Dade League of Prosecutors.

Throughout my life I have always found a way to mentor and give back to the community. Serving others has always kept me grounded. I have mentored children, been a volunteer football coach, and I volunteer at my church in the media ministry.

My judicial philosophy is to show up prepared, treat every attorney or litigant with dignity, and apply the law fairly and evenly. As a Judge I will handle many different cases that will have various issues. In order to address the needs of the case proper preparation is a requirement. This begins before Court is in session by reading the pleadings and familiarizing yourself with the issues that are involved in the case.

Attorneys and litigants from every walk of life will appear before a Judge. Some will be on their best behavior, some not; some will be experiencing or reliving the worst day of their lives; others will be under the highest stress that they have ever experienced. As a Judge it is imperative that everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Doing so will allow everyone to litigate their case and perform at their best. The best Judges that I have seen during my decades of practice have always treated people with the respect they are due.

Judges are public servants who have been entrusted to administer justice, interpret the law and apply it fairly. Doing so allows people to maintain their faith in the judiciary. I firmly believe that this is a requirement for any aspiring Judge,

Having the ability to balance the many demands upon a Court at any given time is an essential function of the job. Judges will be called upon to make many decisions every day. A change to one decision, can affect the balance on many others.

The best way to balance the need for judicial efficiency against the need to give each case due consideration is to effectively know and manage the caseload. Some cases will be able to resolve quickly; some will require immediate attention for a specific issue, and some will require more individual management for a long period of time.

As an attorney (Assistant Public Defender) I have been in Court handling the majority of a Judges Calendar for a large portion of my career. I have had to balance the needs of various clients, cases, and deposition schedules. For many years I was in Court daily. As a trainer and supervisor I had to balance the needs of attorneys and clients in several different Courtrooms. The only way to do this was to know the cases and people, and prepare properly to address their needs. I have done this for many years in Circuit Court.

There are several things that qualify me to be a judge beyond a law degree. For over 20 years, I have built a career in civil law while giving back to my community, holding several leadership positions, advancing other women in the profession, and teaching the next generation by being an adjunct professor/ coach for law students.

Further, my demeanor and temperament would qualify me to be a fair judge. I served as the Chair of the 11th Circuit Professionalism Panel and also held leadership positions in the Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.

Fairness, respect and integrity for all is my judicial philosophy.

I have litigated and handled over 12,000 cases and claims at a time. Being efficient and dedicated to fairness is my approach to handling a busy docket. Additionally, with the use of zoom for hearings, I would be able to handle cases efficiently.