I have lived in Alameda County, and Oakland specifically, for my whole life. Both of my daughters were born at Kaiser Oakland, attended OUSD schools through 8th grade, and attended Bishop O’Dowd for high school. However, my practice has never been defined by geography. What matters most is not where my office is, but the people I have represented and the injustices I have worked to remedy.

Here in Alameda County, I represented Elaine Brown in a civil action against the City of Oakland and a former councilmember. Ms. Brown, the former chair of the Black Panther Party, is an author, artist, and lifelong advocate for justice. She played a central role in bringing affordable housing to West Oakland by developing the Black Panther Apartments. Representing her was both a professional responsibility and a profound privilege.

In Alameda County, I have also represented numerous City of Oakland employees in discrimination and retaliation cases. I represented a woman who was seriously injured when defective fencing collapsed onto Interstate 880, triggering major traffic accidents. I represented a county employee who faced retaliation after reporting that her confidential medical information had been improperly shared. I represented a tenant injured by a negligent landlord and a man who was falsely arrested and imprisoned for two years for a crime he did not commit. I also represented a father who lost his wife and child after they were struck and killed while crossing the street.

Although much of my work has taken place in Alameda County, my practice has extended well beyond county lines. The value of my work is not defined by location, but by my commitment to addressing injustice wherever it occurs.

I have represented a journalist who was assaulted by police officers in Sausalito, store owners in Tiburon who were subjected to racial profiling, and thousands of Richmond residents following the Chevron refinery fire, when corporate decisions put community safety at risk. I currently represent victims of the Buffalo Tops Market shooting in New York and am working toward a resolution against the manufacturer of the firearm used in that tragedy.

I have represented a social worker in San Bernardino who was fired after exposing systemic failures that placed children in the home of a known abuser. I have represented children who were sexually assaulted by teachers, police officers who faced retaliation for reporting discrimination within their departments, mothers whose infants were injured by medical negligence, tenants harmed by unsafe housing conditions, and nurses and doctors retaliated against for advocating for patient safety.

In New York, I represented a man who was beaten by police officers in his own front yard after calling for assistance. In Washington, D.C., I represented a government employee who was terminated for refusing to surrender her constitutional rights. I currently represent individuals in New York who were falsely arrested and prosecuted in violation of the United States Constitution.

Throughout my career, I have represented people, not institutions. This experience has shaped my judgment, reinforced the importance of fairness and accountability, and deepened my understanding of how profoundly legal decisions affect real lives. It is this perspective that I would bring to the Alameda County Superior Court.