Assistant Clay County Attorney, Clay County Attorney’s Office
Q: Tell us about yourself.
A: I am an Assistant Clay County Attorney and have been since March of 2020. Simply put, I prosecute drug and weapons crimes, but have handled a variety of case types during my career, including child protection and juvenile cases. I represent the State of Minnesota in criminal cases and work closely with law enforcement to uphold the law, protect public safety, bring justice to victims, and hold individuals accountable for crimes they commit. I strive to give victims a voice and bring them closure during difficult times. As a prosecutor, I am tasked with balancing accountability with fairness and punishment with discretion.
Q: What inspired you to get involved in your community at a young age?
A: In my line of work, I see individuals at their lowest points. I have seen all of the work that goes into helping them get back on their feet, helping them heal, and making them whole. I have come to realize how many individuals, organizations, and services make up the justice system. I have seen people through the worst moments of their lives and, through that, have seen the shortcomings and gaps in some services. I want to work to help fill those gaps and make sure that no victim or person goes without everything they need to be successful.
Q: Who has been the most influential mentor in your life, and why?
A: My mother has been the most influential mentor in my life. She was a National Park Ranger and a teacher, and taught me a love for the outdoors and for history. As a teacher, she always went above and beyond for her students to make sure they had a good foundation for their education. Her goal was to make sure that each child was able to read. She showed me that hard work pays off, even if you don’t see the payoff right away. That has become more and more evident to me since she passed away in March of 2023. Since her passing, countless former students and teachers have reached out to my family with stories about how she helped them and changed their lives. I want to work hard at the things I am passionate about and be able to make a difference the way she did.
Q: What community issue do you feel deserves more attention?
A: This may be a niche issue, but the misinformation and misunderstanding about the criminal justice system is something that I feel needs more attention. When the news reports about crimes and big cases, a lot of times the information about the procedure and status is wrong.
The news always posts the maximum sentence, which in many cases is hard to get given sentencing guidelines. Individuals are quick to judge and make comments about what should or should not be done with people who are charged with crimes without understanding everything that is taken into account in order to get to a case resolution. I am not sure how we can combat this misunderstanding, as the legal system is very complicated and confusing (even for those who work in it every day) but myself, my colleagues, and local law enforcement work very hard to keep the community safe and it is disheartening to see and hear our hard work criticized due to people not having the full picture.
Q: What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
A: It might surprise a lot of people to learn that I am actually very tenderhearted. I have a big personality, can be loud and very extroverted at times, and am no pushover when it comes to my job. I stand firm in my decisions and will defend those decisions tooth and nail. However, I am also very kind; I will drop everything to be there for family or friends in their time of need, no matter what their issue might be. I always want my family and friends to be okay and will do whatever it takes to make sure they are good.
Q: Why is our local United Way important to you?
A: The United Way is important to me because it brings people from all walks of life together to work towards making our community a better place. United Way makes solving social issues a group effort, rather than putting all the work on one person or one organization. Every person, every organization brings a unique perspective and different ideas to the table, and together great progress can be made.
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: “F.I.F.I” which is short for “F**k it, File it.” My constitutional law professor gave us that advice in law school when we were deep in our first year appellate brief writing assignments. We were all nervous about the assignment as it made up a majority of our grade for our legal writing class, and he told us that running ourselves ragged on something that we have never done before will not help us in the end, and at some point, we have to file it. While the advice on its face may seem a little cynical or taking the easy way out, it has always stuck with me in many aspects of my life. It reminds me that over analyzing a situation may end up causing a bigger issue. It might not work for everyone, but for me, it instills confidence in me and my abilities.
