Restorative Justice: Can Small Communities Lead the Way?
When most people think about justice, they picture a courtroom, a gavel, and maybe a jail cell. But justice isn’t just about punishment. It’s about accountability, healing, and making communities stronger. That’s where restorative justice comes in. Instead of focusing solely on what law was broken and how to punish the offender, restorative justice asks, […]
Bridging the Rural-Urban Divide in Access to Legal Resources
A Challenge We Can’t Ignore When I look at the differences between rural and urban communities, one of the clearest gaps I see is access to legal resources. In large cities, there are law firms on nearly every corner, public defender’s offices with multiple attorneys, and nonprofits dedicated to providing free or reduced-cost legal help. […]
Running for Mental Clarity: How Physical Fitness Supports the Legal Mind
I didn’t set out to become a runner for fitness goals or race medals. I started running to clear my head. After long days in the courtroom, whether working as a public defender, private attorney, or serving as a judge, I found myself mentally exhausted but still full of thoughts I couldn’t turn off. One […]
From the Bench to the Bandstand: How Music and the Law Keep Me Grounded
Finding Rhythm in an Unlikely Place The courtroom and the concert hall couldn’t seem more different. One is full of formality, rules, and pressure. The other pulses with energy, rhythm, and release. But for me, as someone who’s spent years as an attorney, public defender, and judge, I’ve found that the space between the two […]
The Local Impact of Judicial Integrity: Why Small-Town Judges Matter More Than You Think
When most people think about the justice system, they imagine big-city courthouses, high-profile cases, and rows of suited attorneys battling over complex legal matters. What they don’t always picture is the smaller county courtroom—the one with creaky benches, a staff that knows everyone by name, and a judge who might also coach Little League or […]