I was born and raised in Kalamazoo. I attended Kalamazoo Public Schools, where I was a member of the renowned Kalamazoo Central Mock Trial team and part of the first class of students to receive the Kalamazoo Promise. Growing up the daughter of an attorney, I recognized early my passion for the law and its power to transform lives.
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After graduating from the University of Michigan and the DePaul University College of Law, I relocated to Kentucky, where I worked for several years as a public defender representing both juveniles and adults who could not afford an attorney, handling cases at all stages of the criminal process - at trial, on appeal, and in post-conviction actions - even arguing in the Kentucky Supreme Court. In 2019, I moved back to my hometown with my husband to work at Kalamazoo County Defender, Inc., the county’s first public defender law firm, where I am a senior staff attorney representing clients facing serious felony charges and serve as Motions & Appeals Specialist for the office.
In addition to my professional work, I am involved in the community as a coach for the Kalamazoo Central Mock Trial team. I am also on the Board of Directors for both the Kalamazoo County Bar Association and El Concilio, serving as secretary for both boards. I previously held the role of President of the Kalamazoo County Trial Lawyers Association and was on the Board of Directors for Citizens for Prison Reform. I also serve as faculty for the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission Trial Skills program, training other defense attorneys across the state.
Background & Experience
Judicial Philosophy:
A holistic view of justice
​Our courts were never intended to provide “one size fits all” solutions to real world problems. Where real people and their lives are involved, we can only achieve justice if we consider the whole picture. I want everyone who enters my courtroom to feel like they are heard and that their voice matters. As a judge, I will listen and strive to find individualized solutions that address the unique needs of the people involved in each case.
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Pretrial release and bond conditions should be individually tailored for defendants charged with crimes, and should not be used as a punishment. Especially in assaultive crimes, the presumption of innocence must be balanced with protection of the public or victims.
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In sentencing, I will seek to employ alternatives to incarceration wherever appropriate. Criminal sentences should hold people accountable while also positioning them to become contributing members of our community who never find themselves in the court system again. To this end, I believe the most successful criminal sentences utilize specialty courts and rehabilitative programs to address the root issues that bring people into the court system in the first place.
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As a defender of the constitution, I recognize the important role the courts play in our system of checks and balances. As judge, I will ensure that no one is above the law by holding individuals who break the law accountable regardless of what they look like, who they are, or who they know.
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​I am running for District Court Judge because I believe that the legal system should be compassionate and fair for all parties involved, and that judges have the power to transform lives. When I am on the bench, Kalamazoo County can be assured I will act with empathy, integrity, and impartiality.
