What is your practice area and passion in the legal field?
My practice area is Appellate Practice. I am a Motions Practice Staff Attorney for the Court of Appeals of Indiana and, in that role, I am very fortunate to work with fifteen (15) very dedicated judges. I, along with the other Motions Practice Staff Attorneys, are responsible for making sure all motions filed with the Court of Appeals receive a ruling. Depending on the motion, I either draft an order for review by the Chief Judge or a memorandum to be reviewed by a rotating Panel of three judges.
My passion in the legal field has always been to promote efficiency – I live by the mantra, “Justice delayed is justice denied.” In 2023, the Court of Appeals’ average age of cases pending was only 2.1 months. I am a very small part of that, but it is something of which I am very proud.
What is your involvement with IndyBar?
My first experience was as a participant in Bar Leadership Series IV. It was a few years after clerking for Judge Margret Robb on the Court of Appeals and she recommended that I apply for the series. It was a wonderful experience for me because I was able to meet attorneys in other practice areas – many of whom I still count as good friends.
Since that time, I have served on the Steering Committee for the Bar Leadership Program, the Commission on Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion, the Professionalism Committee, and the Lambda Committee. I also walked with the IndyBar in the Pride parade this past June.
What is something you’re recently proud of?
I am proud of my recent application to serve as a Marion County Superior Court Judge. I love my current job and my co-workers, but I see this as a way to serve the public in a different way.
What is your involvement outside of law?
I am involved in my church – serving on several committees and singing with the praise team every Sunday morning. Outside of church, I volunteer with the Ronald McDonald House and with the Indianapolis Opera. Additionally, I have judged Moot Court at IU McKinney School of Law several times over the last few years, and I have served as a judge for the Indiana High School Mock Trial Competition for the last two years. I also have served on three American Bar Association Accreditation Teams, traveling to Boise, Houston, and Madison, Wisconsin.
How do you like to unwind and relax?
I enjoy playing volleyball and kickball with Stonewall Sports, an organization that gives back to community programs and supports LGBTQ people throughout the country. Outside of team sports, I am a morning gym person – if I don’t do it before work, I won’t do it at all. I also love board games and card games and I am a voracious reader – I love a good mystery. My partner and I have two dogs and a cat, including my dog Sparky (in the picture with me) who I adopted from a shelter in 2020. I serve as Sparky’s emotional support person.
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