Candidate for
Family Court Judge; Westchester County

I was born on the Caribbean island of Barbados and came to the United States in 1971 when I was seven (7). I am now a Naturalized Citizen of the United States of America. Upon arriving in the United States, I resided in Scarsdale, New York until 1973 when my mother, sister and I moved to New Rochelle, New York. My mother, my sister and I still lives in New Rochelle. My sister resides with her husband, Andy, and my three wonderful nephews, Andrew, Aaron and Adrian.

My fiancé, George, and I intend to live in New Rochelle after we are married (a date has not been set). George is the proud father of two beautiful young women, Joyce ("Joy"), a candidate for a Master's degree and Cristin, a recent graduate of Fordham University. George is also the proud grandfather of an adorable granddaughter, Alaya, Joy's daughter.

Although my mother did not have the benefit of a high school education (I have Mom's permission to say so), she stressed the importance of Andrea and I getting an education, even though it meant Mom had to work three jobs for us to achieve our goals. My mother calls my sister and me her greatest achievements. Andrea has a Master's degree in Social Work, she works with juvenile delinquent boys and I am "her lawyer," the Democratic Candidate for Westchester County Family Court Judge. I proudly graduated from Columbus Elementary School; Isaac E. Young Junior High School; New Rochelle High School; Utica College of Syracuse University and the City University of New York Law School at Queens College.

I have been in public service the majority of my legal career and desire to serve Westchester County, where I have lived for 36 years, in the highest capacity possible by promoting confidence in an objective, compassionate and inclusive judiciary. My qualifications and experience are well suited for this position and are consistent with my goal of a career within the judiciary. I have had approximately 16 years of combined experience as a Support Magistrate in the Westchester County Family Court, as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney's Office, and in private practice as a practicing attorney before local, county, Supreme and Family Courts in Westchester County and metropolitan New York.

Consistent with my objective of a judicial career, I sought and was appointed Westchester County Family Court Support Magistrate in 2003. I preside over cases filed by residents who reside in Yonkers, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson, Tuckahoe and Bronxville. Annually, I hear and determine more than two thousand (2000) petitions seeking to set child or spousal support, establish paternity, set arrears or modify support already established. I also decide motions, make recommendations for warrants and incarceration as well as carry out the powers granted my position by the Family Court Act. My court part is administered effectively and efficiently with the assistance of two non-legal staff members. I do not have a legal assistant and so I am solely responsible for researching, writing and reviewing my orders and findings of fact and decisions.

In 2004, I was designated as the Magistrate to the Yonkers City Court Integrated Domestic Violence Court which means I am assigned Family Court support cases that involve parties who also have a pending or prior domestic violence case in Criminal Court. As a New York County Assistant District Attorney I prosecuted felony domestic violence and sex crime complaints and referred cases involving family offenses and juvenile delinquents to Family Court when appropriate. When I left the New York County District Attorney's Office I was assigned homicide complaints and was the supervisor of felony and misdemeanor Assistant District Attorneys in my trial bureau as well as supervisor of the Early Complaint Assessment Bureau (ECAB) where complaints were drafted based on arrest reports filed by arresting police officers.

At the request of Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman in 2005, the Judicial Screening Committee of the Rockland County Bar Association evaluated my qualifications for reappointment. On February 3, 2006, I was appointed by Justice Lippman to a second term as Support Magistrate.

Until my appointment as a Support Magistrate I served the New Rochelle Democratic City Committee as an active District Leader in two council districts. Due to the Judicial Rules of Conduct I am prohibited, like elected and appointed judges, from participating in political activities unless I have declared, as here, my candidacy for an elected judicial position.

Thank you for allowing me this time. I look forward to your support and your vote on Tuesday, September 18 and Tuesday, November 6, 2007 for Westchester County Family Court Judge.