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Indiana Supreme Court Office of Judicial and Attorney Regulation
Texas A&M School of Law, 2004
Why did you decide to enter the legal profession?
There were two events in my life that impacted my decision to enter the legal profession. One, a 6th grade field trip to the local courthouse in my hometown in which I got to meet the judge and lawyers. Second, the murder of my grandmother when I was in junior high school led me on a journey to understand the legal system.
If you hadn’t pursued a legal career, what would you be doing?
I would likely be an educator, bookstore owner or a movie critic.
Who is someone who has inspired you in your career?
My husband inspires me daily. Whether I’m having a good or not-so-good day, my husband reminds me that I’m his “shero,” and I strive to live up to that every day.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Mistakes happen but fail fast and keep moving. Don’t get stuck in failure. Learn from it and keep going.
What makes a good lawyer/judge?
A good lawyer is a great listener who is willing to learn and balances effective advocacy with civility.
What is something you wish people knew about lawyers?
Most lawyers get along outside of the adversarial process. Most lawyers genuinely care about one another’s well-being.
Tell us about a “lesson learned” moment you’ve had in your career.
As a former sex crimes and homicide prosecutor, I learned that sometimes I had to “put the pen down” when interviewing victims and witnesses. There was a time when I was so busy writing that I realized I was not present for someone who was recounting a traumatic experience. I didn’t realize at that moment that there was a disconnect. I later learned the person did not feel heard. From that experience, I have reminded myself often that active listening sometimes requires me to “put the pen down.”
Tell us something surprising about you.
I dove off a cliff while on vacation in Jamaica. It was terrifying and exhilarating. I would do it again.
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