VOTE411 Voter Guide

While a law degree provides the foundation for a legal career, serving as a judge requires sound judgment, judicial temperament, and practical courtroom experience developed over years of legal practice. For nearly 30 years, I have practiced law in Miami-Dade County, representing individuals, families, and businesses in thousands of cases across a broad range of legal matters. My background spans civil litigation, family law, bankruptcy, and commercial disputes. This extensive courtroom experience—handling jury trials, evidentiary hearings, and mediations—has refined my ability to analyze complex issues and make decisive rulings under pressure. Beyond technical capability, effective judges must possess a calm, respectful judicial temperament. Throughout my career, I have maintained a strong reputation for professionalism among clients, opposing counsel, and court personnel alike. Every legal matter represents a pivotal moment in someone's life, and every litigant deserves a fair hearing regardless of background. As a lifelong resident, I am deeply committed to serving Miami-Dade County with integrity, independence, and a steadfast dedication to the rule of law.

My judicial philosophy is grounded in fairness, impartiality, and the rule of law. A judge's role is to apply the law fairly, listen carefully to everyone who comes before the Court, and make decisions based on the facts, the evidence, and the law. Judges must remain independent and should never let personal beliefs, politics, or public opinion influence their decisions. Justice is about more than the final decision. Every person who comes before the court deserves to be heard, treated with dignity and respect, and know that their case was considered fairly, impartially, and with the attention it deserves. Nearly 30 years of practicing law have taught me that the best judges are fair, independent, and respectful. If elected, I will approach every case with an open mind, apply the law consistently, and treat every person who comes before the Court with dignity and respect.

Efficiency and fairness are not competing goals—they go hand in hand. During my 30 years of practicing law, I have learned that preparation, organization, and clear communication keep cases moving while ensuring every party has the opportunity to be heard. Good courtroom management reduces unnecessary delays without compromising due process. If elected, I will actively manage the docket while giving every case the time and attention it deserves. Every person who comes before the court should leave knowing they were heard, treated with respect, and that their case was decided fairly based on the law and the facts.

Beyond my formal legal qualifications, I believe my suitability for the bench is rooted in three core pillars: extensive courtroom experience, meaningful personal life experience, and judicial temperament. For nearly a decade, I have been deeply immersed in the courtroom. Throughout my tenure as a prosecutor, I have litigated a broad spectrum of cases ranging from misdemeanors to homicides, while arguing motions and guiding victims through the complexities of the trial process. For the past three and a half years, I have served in the Human Trafficking unit, dedicated to advocating for our most vulnerable citizens. My commitment to justice is also informed by my personal experiences with the legal system. Having had family members on both sides of the courtroom, as a victim of a crime and as a defendant, I possess a unique, dual perspective on the gravity of the legal process. These experiences have provided me with a profound understanding of the impact that judicial proceedings have on individuals and their families. Itis this synergy of my professional practice and these personal insights that fosters the judicial temperament necessary for the bench. My approach is defined by steadfast adherence to the rule of law, coupled with a commitment to maintaining a courteous, respectful, and logical environment. I am dedicated to upholding the integrity of the system and ensuring that all participants leave with the conviction that justice has been served.

My judicial philosophy is anchored in a steadfast adherence to the rule of law, balanced by the recognition that every case is distinct. I believe that each individual who enters the courtroom whether its a victim, witness, or law enforcement officer, deserves to be treated with unwavering respect and dignity. My near decade of experience as a prosecutor has provided me with a comprehensive master of sentencing guidelines. The background allows me to accurately navigate the statutory parameters governing criminal cases while exercising informed discretion where legally permissible and applicable. I view the role of a prosecutor as the first line of defense for the Constitution and a primary guardian of victims' rights. Having served in this capacity for nearly ten years, I possess the experience and necessary to apply the law strictly within constitutional limits while maintaining the grace ad temperament required to ensure that every participant is the legal process is treated fairly and equitably.

Since 2016, I have balanced managing high caseloads with the necessity of ensuring that every matter receives thorough, due consideration. This is a critical responsibility of every prosecutor at the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, given the high volume of cases in our county. Developing the ability to work thoroughly, efficiently, and effectively is essential when managing hundreds of cases on a single docket, which I handled.

Furthermore, during my tenure as Chief of the Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Unit, I managed fellow attorneys and was responsible for ensuring the efficient resolution of thousands of cases. Throughout this process, I never lost sight of the fact that each file is represented a family navigating their most trying times, requiring both attention and compassion. As a prosecutor, a fiance, and a mother, I have cultivated the ability to continuously navigate the demands of efficiency while maintaining the necessary care and consideration for everything that comes before me.

A law degree is only the beginning of what prepares someone to serve as a Circuit Court Judge. What truly qualifies a judge is a lifetime of legal experience, sound judgment, integrity, and a commitment to serving others. I believe my career and my life have prepared me for that responsibility.

For more than 35 years, I have practiced law in criminal, civil, family, juvenile, probate, immigration, personal injury, and complex litigation. As a Senior Supervising Attorney with the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office, I represented clients, supervised attorneys, mentored new lawyers, and made difficult decisions requiring fairness, professionalism, and sound judgment.

Beyond the courtroom, I have taught at the college level, founded Education Means More Access (E.M.M.A.), volunteered with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and served in civic, professional, and faith-based leadership. My career has prepared me to treat every person with dignity, apply the law fairly and impartially, and uphold the integrity of our courts. I am ready to serve the people of Miami-Dade as their next Circuit Court Judge.

My judicial philosophy is shaped by more than 35 years of standing where the law meets real life. I believe a judge must bring not only knowledge of the law, but the wisdom gained from experience, the discipline to listen, and the courage to make fair and impartial decisions.

My preparation for the bench has come from decades in courtrooms—not just observing the justice system, but actively participating in it. As a trial attorney and Senior Supervising Attorney with the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office, I evaluated evidence, litigated complex matters, balanced competing interests, mentored attorneys, and made critical decisions affecting people’s lives. I have practiced across multiple areas of law, including criminal, civil, family, juvenile, immigration, probate, and complex litigation.

I understand that courts serve people, not just cases. Through teaching, mentoring, community service, and advocating for access to justice, I have learned the importance of patience, communication, and respect.

As judge, I will bring the perspective of a courtroom-tested lawyer, the leadership of a supervisor, and the compassion of a lifelong public servant. I will ensure that every person who enters my courtroom is heard, every decision is grounded in the law and facts, and justice is administered with fairness, efficiency, and integrity.

My goal is not simply to preside over cases—it is to uphold the trust placed in the judiciary by serving every person who comes before the court

A judge must balance the responsibility to give each case careful consideration with the need to ensure justice is not delayed. I believe efficiency and fairness are not competing values; they are achieved through preparation, organization, and effective case management.

After more than 35 years as a trial attorney and almost a decade as a Senior Supervising Attorney with the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office, I understand both the importance of moving cases forward and the consequences when a person’s legal matter is unnecessarily delayed. I have evaluated evidence, managed complex litigation, supervised attorneys, and made difficult decisions requiring judgment, preparation, and fairness.

As a judge, I will work to create a courtroom where expectations are clear, attorneys are prepared, and cases proceed in a timely manner without sacrificing due process. I will distinguish between delays that are necessary to ensure justice and delays that simply postpone it.

Every case represents real people—a family, a victim, a defendant, a business, or a community—whose lives may be affected by the court’s decisions. Efficiency must never come at the expense of fairness, and fairness must never become an excuse for unnecessary delay.

A prepared judge can accomplish both: a courtroom that respects everyone’s time while ensuring every person receives the thoughtful consideration and justice they deserve.