WHY I’M RUNNING

My why comes from some of my earliest memories -- hearing the stories of my family’s lineage and migration to Michigan. My family comes from Grovehill, Alabama, a place where the penalty for interracial dating was murder. My grandfather was lynched -- his home burned to the ground –all for courting a white woman, ultimately leading my father to flee North. To this day, no one has ever been held accountable. My father knew deeply the pains of injustice but chose to instill in me the belief that justice can heal, that justice belongs to us all by birthright, that restoring the balance of justice can restore someone’s human dignity. 

My why comes from growing up on the Eastside of Detroit. Of seeing the throws of poverty, blight, addiction, but also the resilience of the human spirit. Of beginning to understand that while I saw injustice when I looked out my window, the world didn’t have to be this way. That I could do something to fix it, and that becoming a lawyer was how. 

My why comes from becoming the first person in my immediate family to graduate from college, all while navigating single motherhood. Of experiencing a dream deferred–of working multiple jobs to care for my young daughters while putting law school on the back burner.  Of finally having the resources and support to pursue my legal education, a wonderful partner to believe in me and support me while studying for the bar, and the courage to make my love of justice my career. 

My why comes from choosing to help indigent clients. Of being a prosecutor advocating for justice for domestic violence survivors. Of being a legal services attorney at Legal Aid and Defender and Lakeshore helping people to keep custody of their children, or avoid eviction. Of serving as the Managing Director at the Detroit Justice Center, leading a dynamic group of attorneys committed to helping formerly incarcerated individuals have another chance. 

In my career I’ve seen a father break down in tears because a judge held his period of incarceration against him and denied him an opportunity to foster a loving and healthy relationship with his child, over her mother’s wishes.  

I’ve seen countless individuals sentenced to jail time over minor, non-DUI traffic offenses simply because they could not afford to pay their court-ordered fines and fees.

I’ve seen individuals be misgendered by judges who flippantly dismissed the importance of using their preferred pronouns. 

I’ve seen a single mother who was battling cancer and housing instability told that she didn’t look homeless after requesting a payment plan.

I’ve seen individuals be scoffed at by disconnected members of the judiciary who were out of touch with the realities of being poor, between jobs, or between homes. I’ve counseled clients who were scared to go to court, not because of their pending case, but because they didn’t want to be met with condescension and humiliation.  

It’s time to stop criminalizing poverty in the court, and it’s time to have a judiciary who actually reflects the communities who often find themselves in court. I believe in the transformative power of a fair, empathetic, thoughtful judicial system, and I aim to contribute to that vision. I am so incredibly humbled and grateful by the outpouring of support I’ve received since taking on this challenge, and while we are off to a fantastic start, I know there is still work to be done. But with your help, I know we can make history here in Oakland County.