There is an old saying that the courtroom is a crucible—it melts away theories and reveals exactly what someone is made of. You can read every law book on the shelf, but you do not truly understand criminal law until you have stood before a jury, managed a ticking clock, handled unexpected witness testimony, and fought for a verdict.

Over the course of my career, I have reached a benchmark that very few can claim: I have taken over sixty cases all the way to a jury verdict.

Why does that number matter for a judicial candidate? Because the Shelby County Criminal Court dockets are heavy, complex, and fast-moving. Division VIII cannot afford a judge who needs a learning curve. We cannot afford a judge who looks at a complex wiretap execution, a multi-defendant organized crime case, or a highly sensitive sexual assault evidentiary motion and has to figure out the rules of engagement on the fly.

Taking sixty-plus cases to verdict means I have seen almost every unexpected twist and turn that can derail a trial. I have worked hand-in-hand with undercover stings, coordinated with federal agencies on wiretaps, and navigated complex constitutional challenges from the defense table. I know the rules of evidence not just because I memorized them, but because I have lived them under pressure.

When a judge lacks deep trial experience, courtrooms slow down. Dockets back up. Errors are made, and cases end up being overturned on appeal—forcing victims to relive their trauma all over again and costing taxpayers thousands of dollars. Experience on paper is nice, but experience in the pit of a trial is what keeps a courtroom fair, efficient, and constitutional.

But sixty trials taught me something even deeper than legal mechanics: they taught me respect for the process. A jury trial is a beautiful, heavy display of our democracy in action. It requires twelve everyday citizens to step away from their lives and make an monumental decision. A judge’s job is to protect that process—to be the steady, unbiased arbiter who ensures both sides play by the rules so that the jury can find the truth.

I am running for judge because I am trial-tested and ready to lead on day one. I don't have to wonder how I will react when a high-stakes legal battle unfolds in front of me. I’ve been there. I’ve done the work. And I will bring that exact standard of seasoned preparation to the Division VIII bench.