VOTE411 Voter Guide

I am a licensed Arizona attorney with more than 20 years of experience working in Arizona courtrooms. Before becoming an attorney, I served as a bailiff, criminal courtroom clerk, legal secretary to an elected official, and law clerk, giving me firsthand knowledge of court operations from multiple perspectives. I earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, a Master of Public Administration, and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Northern Arizona University. My experience includes Justice Court practice, specialty courts serving veterans and individuals experiencing homelessness, domestic violence court, and extensive behavioral health and crisis-response training. This combination of legal, courtroom, and public service experience has prepared me to serve as a fair, knowledgeable, and effective Justice of the Peace.

One of the greatest challenges facing Justice Courts is ensuring access to justice for individuals who often appear without attorneys and may be navigating financial, housing, family, or behavioral health challenges. Courts must be accessible, understandable, and efficient while maintaining fairness and impartiality. Another challenge is maintaining public confidence in the judicial system through professionalism, transparency, and timely case resolution. As Justice of the Peace, I would focus on treating every person with dignity and respect, ensuring litigants understand the process, managing cases efficiently, and applying the law consistently. My goal would be to provide a courtroom where all parties know they have been heard and treated fairly.

When making sentencing decisions, I would carefully consider the facts of the case, the applicable law, the circumstances of the offense, the impact on victims, public safety, and any mitigating or aggravating factors permitted by law. Every case is unique and deserves an individualized assessment. Sentencing should promote accountability, protect the community, and be consistent with legal requirements. Where appropriate and authorized by law, I would also consider whether rehabilitative resources or treatment options could reduce future involvement in the justice system while maintaining accountability for unlawful conduct. My responsibility would be to make fair, impartial decisions based on the law and the evidence presented in court.

I bring a strong knowledge of the law while focusing on individuals and working with people during some of the most difficult periods of their lives. As a children's attorney, I was the office's main appellate attorney, which required strong attention to the law and making complex arguments regarding its application. I bring that same attention to detail to the role of Justice of the Peace, researching the law and staying informed of changes and new developments.

Much of my career has been devoted to working with children and families during difficult periods while involved with dependency and delinquency proceedings. Throughout my career, I have developed skills working collaboratively with others to find solutions that hold individuals accountable and achieve results benefiting both individuals and the community as a whole. The best outcomes result in rehabilitation rather than being solely punishment.

Pima County Consolidated Justice Court is in the midst of a historic deconsolidation. This year marks the first time in 50 years that cases are being filed and heard in the Precinct in which they originated rather than assigned at random. As this means that JPs are now directly accountable to our constituents, it also means that we are working through caseload redistributions and adjustments to the specialty courts at the consolidated courts.

While dockets increase, my focus is to ensure that the quality of the hearings is not diminished by the busyness of the docket. Parties are heard, questions are answered, and while not everyone can be happy with the decisions made, parties leave knowing the reasons why the decisions are made.

I also believe in the importance of the specialty courts and am committed to ensuring they continue to provide specialized solutions and support for their particular caseloads. My desire, if elected, is to expand their offerings and foster their growth.

Sentencing requires a delicate balance: considering the rights and circumstances of the defendant, the victim, and the community. While some sentences are dictated by statutes and law, sentencing requires individual considerations of each case's unique circumstances. Each case is different and vast differences exist in the facts and circumstances surrounding cases alleging the same offense. I make sure to factor in all available information and considerations before determining the appropriate sentence.