VOTE411 Voter Guide

I was raised in NC, attended the UNC-Chapel Hill, then went on to attend Wake Forest University School of Law. My parents were teachers and instilled in me the desire to work hard and serve my community. I moved to Asheville and have lived here for over 25 years, representing Western North Carolinians dealing with complex legal issues. I have worked in the courts handling misdemeanors and felonies, in juvenile court, in DSS/CPS court, and also have experience in Family Court dealing with child support, child custody, divorces, and restraining orders. I have represented Plaintiffs, Defendants, victims, and small businesses. I will bring a commitment to decisions that are lawful, transparent, and rooted in both accountability and compassion

Party affiliation does not determine how cases are decided; facts, evidence, and the law do. A judge's duty is to uphold the Constitution, apply the law fairly, and ensure that every person who enters the courtroom is treated with dignity and respect. Judicial ethics require impartiality and a commitment to justice under the law, and those principles guide every decision a judge makes. My role would be to ensure that each person is heard without bias, the law is applied consistently, and the courtroom remains a place where people can trust the justice system regardless of their background or beliefs.

I have extensive experience with the types of cases that come before a district court and I have spent 25 years working in the courtrooms on a daily basis alongside attorneys, law enforcement, service providers, and families, thus giving me a practical understanding of how these cases affect individuals and the broader community. In criminal law, I have handled all matters ranging from lower-level misdemeanors to more serious felonies, from plea through trial. My work in both family law and juvenile matters has reinforced the importance of thoughtful, balanced decision-making because these cases often involve complicated family dynamics, child welfare concerns, along with custody, divorce and equitable distribution.

Judges must use our power sparingly and responsibly, because every decision we make has a great impact on every life we touch.

I believe our County deserves a judge who will be kind, compassionate and thoughtful. I’ve practiced in the Buncombe County District Court since 2006, and I’ve developed a keen understanding of how the court works, as well as clear ideas for how it could be improved. I’ve donated thousands of hours of pro bono representation, assisting hundreds of survivors of domestic violence obtain orders protecting them from their abusers, and helped numerous minority-owned businesses with business law issues. I've served on non-profit boards and as president of my kids' school's PTO. I believe that my record of service and demonstrated devotion to justice for all makes me uniquely qualified to serve on the District Court bench.

A judicial candidate's political party platform should not play any role in how they perform their work as a judge. A judge's rulings should be unbiased and based solely on law and facts. As the American Bar Association's Code of Conduct states: "Even when subject to public election, a judge plays a role different from that of a legislator or executive branch official. Rather than making decisions based upon the expressed views or preferences of the electorate, a judge makes decisions based upon the law and the facts of every case. Therefore, in furtherance of this interest, judges and judicial candidates must, to the greatest extent possible, be free and appear to be free from political influence and political pressure." Rule 4.1, com. 1.

I have practiced in every court in the County. I've helped spouses end their marriages and divide their property and the custody of their children. I've helped children break free from parents who've abandoned them and then become adopted into loving households. I've helped hundreds of domestic abuse survivors obtain protective orders and other remedies, always pro bono. I've assisted stalking victims as they navigate the processes to bring their stalkers to justice through the criminal system, where the DA's office support has been lacking, also pro bono. I've represented hundreds of people accused of breaking the criminal law, ensuring they are treated fairly. I've helped teachers get back pay they are owed.

Over the years, I have observed that no one wants to go to court. All around the courthouse, I see misery, anxiety and fear. People are re-living the worst days of their lives. Victims are re-traumatized by the system and the people who caused their trauma in the first place. No one is happy to be there. Eventually, just about everyone there has to visit the cashier to pay a sum of money that seems arbitrary, just so they can put the matter behind them. I believe judges have the obligation to ameliorate that misery whereever they can. They must treat everyone – defendants, plaintiffs, bailiffs, attorneys, court staff – with respect and kindness. One quality that I have that will serve me well in this regard is my kindness. I smile a lot. I'm self-deprecating in my humor. I will listen to everyone, and make sure that everyone feels heard. That’s all any litigant really wants – to know that the person deciding their case listened with kindness and compassion. That's the person I will be.