Home: Chicago, IL. Birthplace: Chicago, IL. Profession: Legal. Organization: Circuit Court of Cook County. Title: Judge. Alma mater: Northwestern University.
Current project: Enhancing procedural fairness and accessibility within the Domestic Violence Court Division of Cook County. Recent recognition: Honored with the Mary Heftel Hooton Award by the Women’s Bar Association. Recent professional development: AI 2035: The Legal Profession and the Judiciary in the Age of Artificial Intelligence committee member. Latest accomplishment: Keynote Speaker for the South Asian Bar Association.
Personality profile: Empathetic, principled, intellectually curious, and quietly tenacious. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Steadfast. Moral compass: Would I want this reported in The Wall Street Journal? What is your greatest joy? Seeing justice served in a way that genuinely improves someone’s life. What natural talent have you neglected? Creative writing. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Educators.
What was your first paying job? Legal intern at a public defender’s office. What was your favorite college course? Constitutional Law. What book have you repeatedly read? To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Listen first, speak with purpose. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Every decision affects someone’s life; treat that responsibility with humility. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? Digital case management systems. What is your favorite app? Libby.
What is your big idea?
Establish a mentorship and leadership pipeline for women in law.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Make domestic violence courts more trauma-informed. What change would you like to see in the world? A justice system that is universally accessible and empathetic.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? Justice with Grace. What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Rachel McAdams. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? With family and friends in a quiet garden. What advice would you give your younger self? Don’t be afraid to take up space - your voice matters.
Personal mission: To uphold justice with empathy and empower future leaders. Favorite quote: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (Martin Luther King, Jr.).
