Areas of Experience

Medical malpractice, personal injury, premises liability, bankruptcy, condemnation, consumer, contracts, defamation, financial, insurance coverage, local government, professional liability, real property, trusts & estates, and family law including child/spousal support, custody/visitation, and equitable distribution.

Professional Experience

• Judge, 4^th Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia, City of Norfolk, 2009-2025; Chief Judge, 2019-2021.
• Attorney, Kaufman & Canoles, P.C., 2000-2009.
• Attorney, McCandlish Holton (formerly Mezzullo & McCandlish), 1996–2000.
• Attorney, McGuire Woods, (formerly McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe), 1986-1994.

Affiliations

• Judicial Member, Commission on Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program, 2013-present.
• Member, Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Advisory Board, 2022-present.
• Member, Bench-Bar Committee, Virginia State Bar.
• Member, Working Interdisciplinary Network of Guardianship Stakeholders Committee, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia.
• Member, Executive Committee of Judicial Conference of Virginia, 2015-2019.
• Member, Virginia Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Domestic Violence Issues in Virginia Courts, 2010-2015.
• Member, Executive Committee, I’Anson-Hoffman Inn of Court.
• Member, Executive Committee, Virginia Women Judges Association.
• Recipient, Woman of Distinction Award, South Hampton Roads YWCA, 2013.
• Certified Virginia Master Naturalist.
• Member, Executive Committee, Cape Henry Audubon Society.

Education

• Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., cum laude
  • Associate Editor, Law Review – The Tax Lawyer
• University of Maryland, B.A., summa cum laude
  • Valedictorian