I am running for judge because I care deeply about the people and communities our courts serve. I believe the justice system functions best when judges bring experience, fairness, and humanity to the bench. Courtroom decisions do not happen in isolation. They have real and lasting effects on families, neighborhoods, and the broader community. Courts should be places where the law is applied fairly, people are treated with dignity, and public trust is strengthened.
For more than fifteen years, I have practiced law in Cook County, spending the majority of my career as a public servant. I currently serve as an Assistant Public Defender in the Multiple Defendant Homicide Task Force Unit, where I have acted as lead trial attorney on a wide range of complex, high-stakes cases. These cases demand exhaustive preparation, mastery of the law and evidence, and the ability to make sound decisions under intense pressure.
Serving as lead counsel carries an enormous responsibility. Every strategic decision, from motions practice to jury selection, from witness examination to closing argument, can determine the outcome of a case and profoundly affect the lives of everyone involved. I have spent countless hours reviewing evidence, litigating difficult legal issues, and standing beside clients at the most vulnerable moments of their lives, fully aware that their liberty, their families, and their futures were in my hands. That responsibility has shaped my judgment, my discipline, and my respect for the power of the courtroom.
At the beginning of my legal career, I worked as an associate in the Law Offices of John F. Lyke, where I gained early exposure to courtroom practice and the importance of preparation and professionalism. I also spent time in the Civil Division of the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, assigned to Child Protection matters, which reinforced the reality that judicial decisions can alter the course of families and children’s lives. While my practice has been largely trial-focused, these experiences broadened my understanding of the courts’ reach into everyday life.
As a public defender, I have had the privilege and responsibility of working with people at nearly every stage of life. I have represented young people just beginning to understand the legal system, parents trying to hold their families together, and older adults navigating some of the most difficult moments they will ever face. Meeting people where they are, listening to their stories, and understanding their circumstances has taught me how to engage with individuals on a meaningful level. This experience has deepened my empathy, strengthened my communication, and reinforced the importance of treating every person in the courtroom with patience and respect. These are qualities I believe are essential on the bench.
My passion for this work is rooted not only in professional experience, but also in personal history. In 2005, while visiting family on the South Side of Chicago, I witnessed a police raid that left a lasting impact on me. Officers entered the home by force, used racial slurs, pointed firearms at unarmed occupants, and severely beat a family member who was later hospitalized and charged. I was required to testify in court, where I was told that people from my community often do not appear because they are assumed to be criminals. At the time, I was an honor roll student at Howard University.
I returned to campus profoundly changed by that experience. If this could happen to me, with access to education, opportunity, and support, I questioned what was happening to others in my community who did not have the same chances or protections. That realization led me to change my academic path and commit myself to criminal defense work, grounded in dignity, due process, and the fair application of the law. That decision has guided my career ever since.
I am the first person in my family to attend college, let alone law school, and I carry that responsibility with pride. I am a graduate of Howard University and DePaul University College of Law, institutions that instilled in me a deep sense of service and accountability. I am also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, an organization rooted in scholarship, leadership, and service.
My commitment to public service extends beyond the courtroom. I previously served as General Counsel for the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. I currently serve as a board member of AFSCME Local 3315 and have been a union steward for more than thirteen years, advocating for fairness, accountability, and respectful resolution of disputes. I also serve as a board member of Imagine Englewood If, an organization dedicated to strengthening neighborhoods and expanding opportunity.
Within the legal profession, I am deeply engaged in mentorship and leadership. I am a long-time member and current Co-Chair of the Government Lawyers Section of the Cook County Bar Association, a member of the Black Women Lawyers’ Association, and a member of the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. I also regularly train other attorneys on jury selection, the effective use of technology in trial practice, and the strategic use of expert witnesses. Teaching and mentoring others has reinforced the importance of preparation, clarity, and ethical advocacy.
I am also deeply invested in community education. I regularly teach Know Your Rights programs to youth, adults, and seniors because I believe knowledge promotes safety and trust. When people understand their rights and how the courts function, interactions with the justice system are more measured and less likely to escalate.
Throughout my career as a public defender, I have seen firsthand how courtroom decisions ripple outward, affecting not only the individual before the court, but their families, their children, and entire neighborhoods. As a public defender and a lifelong South Side resident, I have seen the lasting effects of court decisions up close and personal and how they shape families, neighborhoods, and the long-term stability of our communities. These experiences have reinforced my belief that judicial discretion must be exercised carefully, consistently, and with humility.
My judicial philosophy is grounded in fidelity to the law, respect for precedent, and fairness in application. Judges must decide cases based on the law and the facts presented, without fear or favor. At the same time, judges set the tone for the courtroom. Clear communication, consistency, and respect are essential to maintaining public confidence.
I am seeking this judgeship because I want to bring the skills I have honed as a public defender, including preparation, judgment, and the ability to engage people with empathy and respect, to better serve the community from the bench. I respect the seriousness of the role and the trust placed in judges by the public. If elected, I will approach every case with care, independence, and an unwavering commitment to justice.
I would be honored to earn the trust of the voters of the First Judicial Subcircuit and to serve as a judge who applies the law faithfully, treats every person with dignity, and strengthens the integrity of the Circuit Court of Cook County.
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