Occupation/Current Position
St. Joseph County Probate Court Judge
Education
Bachelors of Business Degree from Indiana University and Law Degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Experience and qualifications are key for this office. The Probate Court Judge oversees one of the largest organizations in county government - over 150 staff members, multiple facilities, and dozens of programs. Before being elected Judge, I served the Probate
Court as an attorney in different roles for 16 years and spent a great proportion of my time within the facility working with juveniles and their families. It is imperative that the Probate Court Judge have an intimate understanding of the people, processes, and challenges that must be overcome and different agencies that must work together for the betterment of children and families of our community. That only comes with experience.
When I was first elected, I made it a priority to ensure we are able to provide fast and efficient service to residents - this is especially important because many of the serious matters we address cannot risk being delayed due to bureaucracy or poor administration. That is why I have added a new Courtroom at no cost to the taxpayers and 2 additional Judicial offices to better serve the increasing demands placed upon our Court. Proper administration and
communication with agencies and services providers help to provide better Judicial decisions and better outcomes for families.
Both responsibilities are one in the same. The Judge needs to provide the leadership and direction for the entire operation, and not view them as separate entities. The entities work best when they together to better serve children and families to deliver services when they are needed them the most.
One of my proudest accomplishments is the elimination of the waitlist for the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Program that existed when I was first elected. For the first time in our history, every child has a CASA representative and maintaining this achievement is a top priority for my second term. This is one example of the judicial and administrative responsibilities working hand in hand to ensure the best attention and possible outcomes for our at-risk youth.
Today’s generation is facing a constant changing environment with generational issues beyond their control. Issues surrounding mental health, substance abuse, and poverty are causing many families and children to hit moments of crisis in manners not seen in previous generations.
That is why I implemented the first crisis stabilization program which utilizes modern techniques to conduct a more comprehensives intake and case management system that prioritizes mental health assessment. This allows our staff to quickly and accurately identify high-risk juveniles and get them the appropriate resources they need for their care.
In my next term, we will continue to learn and grow this program so we can address the ever-changing needs of our youth to ensure we are meeting our goal of having an overall positive community impact.
Of course the ideal place for a child is in a stable home with supportive parents that prioritize their child’s welfare. Unfortunately, that is not always the situation. However, I like to address the incorrect myth that our facility be viewed simply as “detention” for youth, as our passion and work is not the equivalent of jail for children.
Within our walls and programs, our youth get the schooling, medical, mental services that they need to lead successful lives in the future. For instance, I established the Bridge Link program which focuses on learning job and independent living skills to prepare youth for life, employment, and successful adult relationships. In 2022, almost every individual participating in this program successfully exited after achieving a GED or gainful employment.
Finding ways to avoid the possibility of detention is always the first goal and we know our community’s front line here is our local school systems. That is why I established a truancy program with area schools along with Five Star Life, a program for character and leadership development, which has successfully been used to keep youth in school. In 2022 alone, over 100 youths participated in this program.
In addition, through our new comprehensive screening and intake process, when our staff identify high-risk youth with mental issues, we are able to report those back to the local school so they may help implement plans for the child to be successful in their learning environment.
I am proud that no client has ever filed a complaint against me after 16 years as a legal professional involved with thousands of cases. My focus has always been on doing the best possible job I can for individuals and families while providing them with the highest quality service within my ability.
Unfortunately when you choose to seek the office of Judge through an election, politics are interjected into that equation. This creates an environment where you have to learn to accept that your best intentions can easily be misinterpreted, twisted, or unfairly misconstrued and Judicial rules severely limit a Judges ability to provide clarity or response.
Therefore, it is important that I ensure that intention and perception are both considered through my own conduct as Judge in addition to those who work for your Probate Court System.