Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve been a family law attorney for almost 30 years, and for 18 years, I’ve served as a Court Commissioner pro tem in Snohomish County Superior Court, as well as a court-appointed Arbitrator for ten years. This means I “put on the black robe” and make decisions in family law cases—mostly temporary orders (parenting plans, child support orders, restraints, contempt and the like).

I take seriously the responsibility entrusted to me to determine facts, apply the law, and sign orders that will have far-reaching implications on families in crisis. I’m charged with ensuring that the best interests of the children come first, and I humbly realize that in the context of what happens behind closed doors, I may never know what really happened when the only evidence is what “he said” vs what “she said.” There is no substitute for judicial experience. It takes hard work, diligence, and humble pursuit of wisdom in discerning the truth and the best/most appropriate path forward under the law.