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.
*Past results are not a guarantee of future results.
EDUCATION
University of Denver College of Law – Denver, CO
J.D., May 2006
- 2006 Student Leadership Award Recipient
- Denver District Court Law Clerk to Judge Christina Habas.
- 2006 Judicial Fellowship, 18th Judicial District
- Teaching Assistant, Property Law, Professors Cheever and Cai.
- SBA Senator, Finance and Faculty Governance Committees, 2005- 2006
- Staff writer, The Writ, 2004 – 2006.
- Co-Founder, Death Penalty Awareness Week
University of Tennessee – Knoxville, TN
B.A., Cum Laude, May 2002
- Phi Beta Kappa
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