I have served as a family court judge for over 22 years and have been the Chief Judge of my court for the majority of that time. I have served as Chief Judge for the majority of my time on the bench, overseeing the Clerk’s office and the efficient management of court operations. I have also served as the lead judge for our community’s best practice initiatives in the areas of foster care, juvenile Justice and child support. I have played a lead role in the development of a number of programs including mental health intervention programs, alternative schools, truancy intervention and foster care best practices. I have also served as a mentor for newly appointed judges since the inception of that program in Virginia and have taught the pre-bench class on Virginia foster care law for more than 15 years.I have worked extensively on both the local and national level as a trainer/presenter, working with judges, lawyers, and other professionals regarding issues of child dependency, truancy, and effective collaboration, with a particular focus on judicial leadership, system reform and reducing the use of foster care and congregate care.

Consultant working with the Annie E. Casey Foundation to develop and implement a court strategy to engage judges and prevent foster care placements in pilot jurisdictions in South Carolina.

As an adjunct professor, I taught a class on juvenile law to a group of second and third year law students. Duties included classroom management/discussion, maintaining attendance, Uthe use of online educational tools such as Blackboard and the preparation of exams and grading of the same.

I participated in management of a seven attorney law firm with offices in Hampton and Williamsburg, Virginia. My duties included maintaining a full caseload, reviewing the work of associates, monitoring the financial aspects of the business and overseeing the computer network.

Developed and maintained a general law practice, including extensive experience in areas of Domestic Relations, Child Custody and Support, Criminal and Traffic Law, Personal Injury, Collections, and Wills and Estate Administration. Served as court appointed counsel to indigent defendants and as a certified guardian ad litem for children and incapacitated adults.

Taught undergraduate level courses in business and criminal law, including lecture and management of classroom discussion, administration and grading of exams, course preparation, and other faculty duties.