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About the Candidate

Education

  • AB in English from UGA 2004
  • MPA from UGA 2006
  • JD from Case Western Reserve University 2009

Personal/Family

  • I work in Atlanta but moved back to my hometown of Athens, GA to be with my Dad as he underwent a double lung transplant during COVID. He not only survived but is doing great! My mom, two younger sisters, and I are very proud of him. I am planning on moving to Atlanta in the near future.
  • I enjoy going to see live comedy and used to do standup in Atlanta (fortunately pre-Instagram and TikTok so there is no record of any bad jokes)

Professional Background, Bar Activities, Civic Activities

  • I am the General Counsel (CLO) for the Georgia Public Defender Council.
  • I have always been a Public Defender. I worked as a trial attorney in the Public Defender Office in Dublin, GA and then moved to Dalton, GA to manage the Conasauga Circuit Public Defender Office as the Circuit Public Defender. As the CPD I managed the budget, personnel, and had an active caseload of the most serious cases. I was then hired to work in my current role and I now have a bird’s eye view of all the great work Public Defenders are doing across the state.
  • I was an active member of the State Bar Indigent Defense Committee until I became the General Counsel of GPDC at which point I became a Liason.
  • In Dalton, I coached a mock trial team at a local high school. After leaving, I volunteered as a mock trial judge in Atlanta.
  • I am a Coordinator of GPDC’s Transition Into Law Practice Program (TILPP) program and a faculty member. We train all new Public Defenders in the State. I have also been a faculty member at the National Association of Public Defenders Emerging Leader Institute (ELI). I am NHTSA certified and attended the National College for DUI Defense Summer Session at Harvard.
  • was a member of the Young Leaders Society of the United Way in Dalton and then volunteered last year to review Grant Applications for the United Way in Athens.

Main Issues Facing the State Bar/Position

  • Mental Health and Substance Abuse Issues are a scourge on our profession. As a Public Defender, I have seen the toll that burnout takes on extremely bright, ambitious attorneys. My parents are both mental health professionals and emphasized the importance of personal well-being. As a member of the Board of Governors, I would work to spread knowledge of the wonderful and varied programs the State Bar has available and receive feedback of how they can be improved.