From the time I was five years old until I graduated from high school, I grew up in a home where our family served as a foster family to many young people. I became very curious about how and why some kids grow up in a home with people to whom they are not biologically related.  I wanted to know why kids who wanted to be with their biological family could not live with their biological family. Not realizing it at the time, I had a front row seat to the courts effect on families.

 

I learned that it was necessary for some kids to be separated from their parents, because they were being abused and or severely neglected. Their physical scars were apparent. I learned that some kids were separated from their parents due to abandonment. Their emotional scars were apparent. I learned that sometimes it was the behavior of the child that caused families to separate. Lastly, I came to understand that it was necessary for the court to step in for children who were mentally challenged and could not offer a lot of meaningful input on decisions that affected their lives.

 

I often wondered, who is the person that decides what is in the best in the interest of everyone? And how were these decisions made? Who is the person that helps families put the pieces back together after suffering a traumatic event? I want to be that person. I want to help bring healthy resolutions to challenging problems that families face. Family law is just one way to do this. I want to bring resolve to conflict in every type of case. I want to help parties obtain a sense of relief by determining a fair resolution based in the law. Sometimes, simply having an answer, one way or the other, can bring about immense relief to the people involved. As a district court Judge, I will work hard to provide timely relief, based in the law, so that those who come before me, can begin to move forward with their lives.