I was born and raised in Tennessee. I attended college in my hometown, graduating with honors from the University of Tennessee with a B.A. in Literature in 2002. After college, I moved to Colorado to attend the University of Denver. While in law school, I participated in the criminal defense clinic where we fought to protect clients accused of crimes, drafted appeals, and represented clients in court. During law school, I was a law clerk for a Denver Judge and also worked as an intern for Colorado’s Office of the State Public Defender.
After law school, I performed a judicial fellowship in Arapahoe County working for two District Court Judges where I drafted orders, researched legal issues in criminal and civil matters, and reviewed postconviction petitions. Shortly after that, I began working as a Deputy State Public Defender where I worked in two of the busiest trial offices in Colorado: Adams and Denver Counties.
As a Public Defender, I handled thousands of criminal matters ranging from DUIs, Assaults, Sexual Assaults, Homicides, Drug Offenses, Violent Crimes, Weapons Offenses, Financial Crimes including COCCA cases, and Domestic Violence charges. I also represented clients in numerous appeals and postconviction matters, such as reconsiderations of sentences and litigation of postconviction claims.
I left the Public Defender’s Office in 2016 to start my own practice. I specialize in serious felony offenses but give equal passion and attention to clients accused of DUIs, assaults, misdemeanors, and Domestic Violence charges.
EXPERIENCE
Colorado State Public Defender, Denver & Brighton, CO (2007 – 2016)
Senior Deputy State Public Defender, Trial Attorney
• Represented clients in thousands of felony cases
• Represented clients in over sixty trials mostly involving serious felony matters.
• First chaired complex first degree murder case.
• Successfully litigated production of documents by entering pro hac vice in Nevada.
• Communicate with Spanish-speaking clients and interpret for colleagues.
• Successfully represented clients in stabbing cases resulting in acquittal on mandatory prison sentences.
• Litigate sex assault on child case resulting in acquittal.
• Represent clients in acquittals of numerous drug offenses.
• Represent direct file client in first degree assault trial resulting in acquittal.
• Represent first degree murder clients resulting in conviction of lesser offenses.
• Mentor young attorney by assisting them with training, pretrial, and trial litigation
• Supervise and assist investigation of complex felony cases.
• Prepare creative demonstrative exhibits: powerpoint presentations and videos.
• Successfully used electronic discovery in trial.
• Litigate and write numerous successful appeals.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
• Denver Chapter Head, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, 2017-Present
• Conducted statewide training for public defenders “Litigating 404(b), 2015
• Conducted training for Denver Trial Office “Litigating Prosecutorial Misconduct”, 2014
• Conducted trainings for Brighton Regional Office “Evidence-Based Sentencing” and “Time Actually Served in DOC”, 2013
• Judicial Benchbook Committee on DV—Co-authored preface and sections, 2009
• Board Member, Coloradans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, 2006 – 2010
