Highlights

    Since moving to Texas in 2001, my work revolved around the legal field one way or another.  My introduction to the legal world began with the general study of law at St. Mary's Law School, but I quickly developed a passion for the criminal justice system and Constitutional law.   I excelled in my criminal procedure classes, I published an article studying a Texas criminal case, and I tutored students in Constitutional Law.  Before taking the bar, I interned at the Bexar County District Attorney's Office.  I immediately fell in love with the criminal justice system and knew I wanted to spend my career working at the Bexar County Courthouse. 

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PROSECUTION PRACTICE

    After my admission to the Texas bar in 2004, I accepted a position with the Bexar County District Attorney’s office as a criminal prosecutor. With the District Attorney’s office I spent over eight years working for victims seeking justice for crimes against them. I helped victims of family violence obtain orders of protection against their abusers. I prosecuted driving while intoxicated and drug cases in order to make our streets safer. I charged abusers for crimes they committed against children. I analyzed legal issues to write briefs filed in the Fourth Court of Appeals keeping criminals in prison. I protected children against abuse and neglect with Child Protective Services. I tried various cases to a jury including thefts, assaults, DWI and drug offenses, burglary of habitations, resisting arrest, criminal trespass, and evading detention with successes in the majority of my trials. For over eight years I worked for the citizens of San Antonio to keep them safe and secure.

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LEGISLATIVE WORK

    With all my successes  in the D.A.’s office, my most beloved achievement is my involvement in drafting legislation for an amendment to the Texas Constitution, a statute in the Texas Penal Code, and an article in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. In 2006 a San Antonio woman was the victim of a horrific murder. In accordance to then procedure, a judge released the victim’s estranged husband on bail after he was arrested for assaulting her. Because of my extensive work in protective orders and knowledge in appellate law, I worked with my colleagues in drafting legislation denying bail in certain family violence cases. In all my successful convictions and fruitful endeavors with the D.A.’s office, I take the most joy in seeing my own research, experience, and hard work turn into a section in the Texas Constitution and provisions in Texas codes. From a tragic loss of life came a legal way to help and protect future victims of family violence.

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DEFENSE PRACTICE

    By 2012 I knew I wanted to be a judge in Bexar County one day. But since I only had experience in the criminal justice system as a prosecutor, I felt it necessary to open my own practice and learn how the other side practices law in the courthouse. In my own private practice, I mirror my prior work as an A.D.A., however now I represent and defend the interests of adults and juveniles accused of crimes.  I navigate the clients through pretrial services and the docketing process. I explain their constitutional rights and options in resolving a criminal case. I investigate and research charges filed against a person. I make sure the law I once helped write is applied legally and justly. And when necessary, I defend the clients against false allegations. Attorneys zealously representing the accused is essential to our criminal justice system, and I am honored to help juveniles and adults make their ways through the system.

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    Overall, I have handled every level of criminal charges from traffic tickets to Child Protective Services cases to murder charges. Along with the different types of charges, I have started with the cases during the investigative phases and finished them with briefs to the Fourth Court of Appeals.   And I have helped write law that is still used today to protect victims of domestic violence.   My extensive experience practicing criminal law as both a prosecutor and defense attorney is essential to being a fair and impartial judge.  Drafting language in the Texas Constitution, an offense to the penal code, and criminal procedure highlight my knowledge of the law. This is the experience and knowledge I would bring to the bench, and why I am your best choice for Judge of County Court #9.