I have been practicing law for almost 20 years handling a wide-variety of cases throughout Texas, and other jurisdictions in the United States and abroad.  During the span of my long career, I have represented numerous clients in state and federal courts, including county courts at law, district courts, appellate courts, and before domestic and international arbitral tribunals. 

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I represent individuals, small businesses, and multinational corporations in disputes involving oil and gas operations, real estate, healthcare, construction, personal injury, employment matters, trade secrets, non-compete and restrictive covenants, and a diverse range of complex contractual and business-related matters. 

 

I also donate my legal services to help those less fortunate.  I have provided pro bono legal services to underprivileged clients in different types of cases, and I work directly with Kids in Need of Defense (K.I.N.D.) providing pro bono representation to unaccompanied minors in immigration and asylum proceedings. I also serve as outside counsel for Holy Trinity Episcopal School of Greater Houston, providing pro bono legal advice and representation to the school. 

 

I am a first generation immigrant to the United States.  Although I now call Houston home, I was born in Mexico and grew up in the El Paso-Juarez border area. From an early age, my parents instilled in me the value of hard work, dedication, integrity, and education.  They taught me the value of believing in myself and taking pride in everything I do.  They sacrificed so that I could reach goals and dreams beyond their own.

 

With their support and encouragement, I graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Spanish, becoming the first person in my family to graduate from a 4-year college.  While at UTEP, I held a full-time job and attended college part-time my last two years to help support my family after the sudden passing of my father. My mother, then only 46 and a stay-at-home mom, started working full-time at a restaurant kitchen during the day and cleaning offices at night to provide for her four young daughters. Her strength, dedication, and unconditional love were inspiring and allowed me to continue pursuing my education and my dream of becoming a lawyer one day.  Even though my father passed while I was still in college, the memory of my father’s sacrifice and his constant encouragement continue to drive me each day. 

 

After graduating from UTEP, I moved to Houston to attend the University of Houston Law Center.  I served as an Articles Editor for the Houston Law Review and graduated with honors, becoming the first person in my family to obtain an advanced degree and to become an attorney.  While attending law school, I also had the privilege of becoming a United States citizen. 

 

After law school, I worked as a law clerk for the Honorable Ewing Werlein, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, where I had the opportunity to work on a variety of civil and criminal matters, gaining invaluable experience as a young attorney.  I was exposed to many areas of the law, and more importantly, to rigorous legal analysis, extensive brief writing, and the ability to understand the inner workings of a courtroom and the importance of the rule of law to our democracy.

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Following my clerkship, I worked at the law firm of Baker Botts, LLP, where I continued to work on various litigation matters helping further refine my analytical, oral, and written advocacy skills. My practice was varied and I had the opportunity to work with individuals, and domestic and international clients across different industries handling small to large-scale matters.  During my time at Baker Botts, I also served as a volunteer prosecutor for the City of Houston, where I tried numerous administrative and criminal misdemeanor cases to the jury on a first-chair basis. 

 

For the last 10 years, I have worked at the law firm of Jones Walker, LLP advocating for my clients and representing them in litigation and appellate matters across various industries.  My experience is extensive, and it has prepared me well for the judicial position I now seek.

 

In addition to my legal title, and more importantly, I am also a proud wife and mother.  I met my husband David in law school, and we have been married for 17 years.  David has a successful legal career and he supports me unconditionally. We have three young sons who keep us grounded and remind us each day what is truly important in life. My favorite sound is their laughter and I love watching them play sports. I volunteer extensively at their schools as a member of the parent teacher organization, serving on various school committees and helping with special projects. I was also their volunteer catechism instructor at our church.  

 

I am grateful to have a successful legal career and a blessed family life.  I now want to serve to give back to the community that has given me so much.  

 

I hope to earn your trust and your vote in the March 3, 2020, Democratic Primary.  It will be a privilege to serve you and our judiciary.