What led you to become a lawyer?
My parents instilled in me a respect for the law.
This inspired me to become a lawyer to uphold the rule of law and the principles of the Constitution that our country was founded on.
I saw early on that the law keeps our society stable and fair. I wanted to be part of the effort to ensure that it remains strong for everyone.
Who inspires you?
My family inspires me every day to try to create a better world for them. I try to live my life to the fullest and be grateful for everything.
How do you relate your undergraduate degree to your practice on the bench?
I received my undergraduate degree in criminology, which helped me to understand the criminal system and benefited me as a prosecutor.
Now as a Clay County judge focusing on more civil cases, I have been relying more on my MBA I received when I completed my J.D.
This gave me a good foundation to deal with a variety of cases that come up in county civil court.
What community service have you pursued and why?
I currently participate in community service that involves my faith and family.
I’m actively involved with the Knights of Columbus service organization at my church; I volunteer at my children’s school events and as a volunteer coach for my son’s soccer team.
I also like to participate in collection drives that my children can be a part of so I can instill the love of service in them.
We have collected for Blessings in a Backpack that provides food for children over the weekends and school supply drives.
During the holidays I like to assist with the J.P. Hall Children’s Charities Christmas Party in Clay County. For the past several years I have helped prepare for the large event where toys are given to children who otherwise may not get gifts.
What is your favorite book?
My favorite book is “Extreme Ownership” by Jocko Willink and Lief Babin. It’s a great book on leadership principles and emphasizes a strong work ethic.
Do you have any special talents?
I have been told I have a radio announcer voice.
If you weren’t a judge, what do you think you’d be?
Growing up, before I discovered I wanted to be in the legal field, I wanted to be a fighter pilot.
Have you traveled anywhere exotic?
I like to travel all over the world but especially tropical locations, like the Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos. The most exotic place I’ve been is the Amazon jungle in Colombia.
If you could meet someone from history, who would it be?
I would like to meet Abraham Lincoln because I admire his moral fortitude, leadership and temperament he maintained as he guided our country during the Civil War.
His ability to handle different perspectives is inspiring in my role as a judge.
What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is Italian food, especially beef carpaccio and seafood pasta.
What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas is my favorite holiday because it’s a time for family and fellowship. July 4th is also special to me because we can celebrate our nation that I’m so grateful to live in, and I always enjoy a good fireworks show.