I was inspired to get into law while serving as a security police officer in the U.S. Air Force. After I left the military, I received my bachelor’s degree and then moved to the Puget Sound area to attend law school.

I have been in the legal field for over 33 years. I started out as a public defender with Associated Counsel for the Accused (ACA), where I worked for 14 years as a staff attorney and then a supervising attorney.  In 2003, I left ACA and for the next 8 years, I ran my own law firm.  In addition, I taught trial advocacy at the University of Washington and served as a judge pro tem in various courts throughout the Puget Sound.

I was elected to the Seattle Municipal Court in 2010 and began my first term in January 2011. I currently preside over Veterans Treatment Court and a General Trial court; previously I presided over Community and Mental Health Courts. I served as Presiding Judge April 2020-July 2022.

I bring compassion, patience, and experience to the bench.  Throughout my legal career as a trial attorney, I had a reputation for being knowledgeable, ethical and prepared. As a judge, I apply these same traits in my courtroom.

In addition to my duties as a judge, I serve on several committees of the District and Municipal Court Judges Association (DMCJA); I am on the Bylaws and Long-range Planning committees, and I chair the Diversity Committee. I am proud to be one of three DMCJA representatives participating in the Washington State Racial Justice Consortium. The Consortium was launched in 2021 to make real progress in dismantling structural racism in the justice system.

Thank you for your support.  I look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Seattle.