Education:  Graduate of Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia and Howard University School of Law, Washington, D.C., 1984

Judicial Experience:  Elected Marion County Superior Court Judge, on November 5, 1996.  I have served as Presiding Judge of Superior Court, Criminal Division, Room One, since January 1, 1997. I was a master commissioner for the Marion County Superior Court’s from 1993 to 1996.

Significant Legal Accomplishments:  Prior to my election as judge, I was a partner in the Indianapolis law firm of Walton & Pratt and focused my practice on family law, bankruptcy, and probate law. I was a part-time, contact public defender in the major felony criminal courts for five years. In that capacity, I gained invaluable trial experience and tried over 100 jury trials. I proudly served as Chief Justice Shepard’s appointee on the Indiana Sentencing Policy Study Commission in 2005.

Other Legal Involvement:  Past Vice President of the Indianapolis Bar Association; and a member of the Board of Directors of the Marion County Bar Association, member of the Indiana State Bar Association, and National Association of Women Judges.  I currently serve on the Indiana Lawyer Reader Advisory Panel, CLEO Advisory Board and the American Inn of Court (Master). I have served as faculty for ICLEF’s Annual Practice Skills Summit for the past two years and frequently serve as a faculty for the Indiana Judicial Conference and the Indianapolis Bar Association. In 2002 I received the Outstanding Judge of the Year Award from the Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Inc.

Personal Statement:  "The past 13 years as a judicial officer in a major felony court have been rewarding, despite the often difficult nature of cases. I have a strong work ethic and Court One tries on average; 40 jury trials each year. It is important to me to treat everyone that enters the court environment with courtesy and respect. I have a strong commitment to my community; I attend St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, and am a former Chair of St. Joan of Arc School Commission. From May 2001 until July 2007 I served as Chair of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Indiana Holiday Commission. I received the 2006 Career Achievement Award from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the 2007 Career Achievement Award from Cathedral High School. It remains my goal to bring conscientious, patient and thorough consideration to matters entrusted to me."