I am committed to excellence and accountability in our judicial system. In my 26-year career as a lawyer it has always been my intent to be thoroughly knowledgeable in the law, prepared for the specific legal task before me, and fair and ethical in the administration of justice. A judge is responsible to know and administer the law, and not to create the law.

My judicial philosophy of professional competence and fairness is embodied in Indiana Judicial Canon 5, from which I quote below:

• A judge shall be faithful to the law and maintain professional competence in it. A judge shall not be swayed in partisan interests, public clamor or fear of criticism.
• A judge shall be patient, dignified and courteous to litigants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers and others with whom the judge deals in an official capacity, and shall require similar conduct of lawyers and of staff, court officials and others subject to the judge’s direction and control.

• A judge shall perform judicial duties without bias or prejudice. A judge shall not, in the performance of judicial duties, by words or conduct manifest bias or prejudice based upon race, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, or similar factors, and shall not permit staff, court officials and others subject to the judge’s direction and control to do so.

My judicial philosophy embraces a “problem solving” approach in the courtroom, particularly in family law matters involving children. The traditional adversarial process can be very harmful for children and ongoing family relationships. A judge can remediate some of those potential harms by channeling families into mediation and other alternative methods of dispute resolution.

Further, I believe that a judge must be actively involved in the community, informed on the social issues that impact justice, and have a vision for the changing needs of our judicial system. A judge must be accountable to the county council and commissioners on fiscal matters regarding the courts.