I am from what I call “Whitebread, NY” where many struggle to understand criminal system reform. I moved to NJ, where I taught in a great school and had near lifetime job security, great health insurance, and a pension. I knew I would take a large pay cut to become a public interest lawyer, but I saw the effect inequality had on student outcomes in my classroom and our school and wanted to do something about it.

I have spent years fighting for due process, equal protection, free speech, and disability rights. I attended Rutgers University for my bachelor’s degree in Spanish Linguistics and my master’s degree in Language Education, then attended Temple Law for my Juris Doctor degree. At Rutgers, I served on a hearing board that determined students’ “guilt” or innocence in university disciplinary hearings. While at Temple, I fought for more Philly students facing disciplinary transfer and expulsion than any other law student in the greater Philadelphia area.

I believe strongly that our government is far from perfect and the criminal system is worse. I stopped calling it the “criminal justice system” years ago because I rarely see anything that resembles justice. However, I get to practice law in a system where people get due process—notice, and an opportunity to be heard—no matter how long it takes or how strong the government’s case is. I know how corny this sounds but: We The People have more of a voice here than in many other places, and it is truly my deepest honor to stand beside people who exercise their right to use theirs.