Prior to becoming a licensed attorney, I attended the University of Denver Law School. In law school I spent two semesters representing clients in the school’s prestigious Criminal Defense Clinic; winning awards for scholastic achievement and “student attorney of the year.” I also interned with the Public Defender for one year while in law school.
I began my work as an attorney in 2014 as Colorado Deputy Public Defender. In that capacity, I received extensive training by some of Colorado’s best criminal defense attorneys in investigation, negotiation, and trial skills. I also gained experience handling almost every type of criminal charge from petty theft to 1st degree murder.
As a Deputy Public Defender, I defended many jury trials in Colorado county (misdemeanor) and district (felony) courts and achieved countless dismissals and not guilty verdicts on cases such as felony assault on police officers, driving under the influence, illegal gun possession, domestic violence, forgery, and possession of contraband.
In 2018, I left the Public Defender’s office to work for myself and spend more time on each individual client. I worked under my own name for about one year. While on my own, I continuing to defend criminal cases, achieving dismissals in domestic violence assault, felony drug possession, and traffic cases, and helped several out of state clients quash Colorado arrest warrants without having to come to Colorado or turn themselves in to the police. I also continued working on and off for the Public Defender as a contract attorney helping supervise new attorneys and also handling a misdemeanor docket and daily bond court for several months.
In addition to taking on criminal cases while on my own, I broadened my horizons by taking on family law, civil protection order, medical malpractice, and personal injury cases.
I joined up with Smith & Cook, LLC in July of 2019 to team up with the firm’s experienced attorneys and to continue to hone my skills.
After a stint with Smith & Cook, LLC, I returned to the Public Defender in 2020 as a Senior Deputy and continued my work defending serious felony allegations. I that period, I achieved not guilty verdicts and dismissals in sex assaults on children, counterfeit money/forgery, assaults on police officers, and driving under the influence charges while mentoring younger attorneys and working through the substantial disruption of the justice system caused by the pandemic.
I then left the Public Defender’s Office again in mid-2023 and have been focusing on criminal defense, protection order, firearm rights, and residential real estate transaction matters. I am excited to continue my work with the other attorneys and professional staff at Smith & Cook, LLC.
Continuing In my current practice, I rely heavily on my own experience and training, but also utilize the experience of other firm lawyers, my connections in the legal community, and the services of seasoned investigators. I understand that when you come to Smith & Cook, LLC, for whatever legal issue, your case can have serious consequences. I therefore take every case seriously and fight for the best possible outcome for my clients.
EDUCATION:
- University of Denver Sturm College of Law, Juris Doctor, 2014
- University of Iowa, Bachelor of Arts in History, 2008
LICENSES:
- All Colorado State and Municipal Courts
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
- Colorado Bar Association
- Colorado Criminal Defense Bar
- Douglas/Elbert Bar Association