What inspired you to become a lawyer?
My faith. I didn’t grow up wanting to be a lawyer. I wanted to make a living singing, writing and selling songs to famous musicians, but at the end of college, I felt a calling to go to law school. I followed that call. And it’s been a journey of trusting and obeying God ever since.
Who inspires you?
My mom. She is a strong, faithful woman. She raised my sister, Dr. Kendra Saunders, and I as a single mom after her husband and our father, Randy Saunders, unexpectedly passed away.
My mom has experienced many hardships in her life, but she remains the most joyful person I know. Her joy and perseverance inspire me daily.
Along with my mom, my sister also inspires me. She’s a professor and school psychologist. It’s wonderful seeing how she uses her skills to work with children.
How do you relate your undergraduate degree to your practice?
I’m a proud graduate of Jacksonville University. There, I studied psychology and philosophy. Scientifically studying the mind and human behavior has been instrumental in my legal career. The legal system is made up of people, from litigants to judges.
Thus, understanding how people tend to think and reason has helped me in every aspect of my practice, including judging the credibility of witnesses.
What community service have you pursued and why?
Service is close to my heart. During the early part of my legal career, I served alongside my mom as an assistant coach for the Fleming Island High School Debate Team.
Later, I became deeply involved in an organization called the Continental Societies Inc. where I served as the local chapter president (until my appointment to the bench) and on the regional and national boards of the organization.
CSI serves underserved kids and provides programming in health, education, employment, recreation and arts and humanities.
Now, I serve on the board of the Library Foundation of Jacksonville and volunteer regularly at my church. To me, service is critical. I am very blessed. I know and appreciate that. Service is my way of giving back some of what I’ve received.
What is your favorite book?
Romans, written by St. Paul. It is an excellent read spiritually and intellectually, especially for those with an interest in legal reasoning. In Romans, St. Paul clearly presents and builds his case for Christ. It’s a fascinating read.
Do you have any special talents?
I love to write. I wrote and self-published my first novel, “Disposable” in 2018. It’s a psychological drama about a surrogacy agreement that goes terribly wrong. Writing fiction is exhilarating to me.
If you weren’t a judge, what do you think you’d be?
I can’t think of anything else I would be. Though I love music and art, I feel that being a judge is a calling that I’m happy to be fulfilling. Also, being a judge provides me many opportunities to write—something I love to do.
Have you traveled anywhere exotic?
A couple of years ago, I traveled to Benin—a country in West Africa. It was a thrilling adventure.
If you could meet someone from history, who would it be?
Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees—he was such a complex and inspiring man. I’d love to meet Plato. His Allegory of the Cave was brilliant. I’d appreciate better understanding his inspiration.
What is your favorite food?
Anything with rice or pasta.
What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas. It’s such a festive time of year and one of the only times we Floridians get to experience a different season.