Community Involvement:

Throughout my career, I have been actively involved with community and professional organizations. I serve in leadership roles and strongly believe in education, mentorship, and service. I have worked with the following organizations:

National Association of Women Judges, 2020-Present (Judicial Independence Committee, 2022-Present)
Chief Justice's Rules Advisory Commission, 2019-2022
International Focus and the U.S. State Dept. International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) (Roundtable Discussions with Foreign Dignitaries, 2012-Present)
North Carolina Association of District Court Judges, 2007- Present (CLE Committee 2024-Present)
Custody Mediation Advisory Committee, 2020-Present
North Carolina Bar Association, 1995-Present (Committee on Women in the Legal Profession, 1996-Present)
Led effort to publish “The Changing Face of Justice: A Look at the First 100 Women Attorneys in North Carolina”
North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys, 1995-Present (Judicial Division Chair 2022-Present)
North Carolina Advocates for Justice, 1995-2007
Tenth Judicial District Bar, 1995-Present (Committee on Indigent Appointments, 2000-2002)
Wake County Bar Association, 1995-Present (Board of Directors, 2021-2024)
Legal Support Center, Advisory Board, 2022-present
Wake County Academy of Criminal Trial Lawyers, 1998-2008
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Volunteer Lawyers Program, 1995-2007 (Outstanding Volunteer Attorney, 1997 & 1998)
Wake Women Attorneys, 2000-Present
Raleigh Wake Citizens Association, 2008, 2012-2020
Wade Edwards High School Mock Trial Competition, Advisor, 1996-1997

Presentations and Speeches:

I am an experienced member of the judiciary with an interest in education. I often speak at local law schools, continuing education programs, and training events for lawyers and judges. The following is a list of some of the presentations I have given:

Practical Aspects of the UCCJEA, UNC School of Government, District Court Judge Conference, June 2025

Disability & Language Access Issues, UNC School of Government, District Court Judge’s Conference, October 2024
Remote Justice: The Effective Use of WebEx Hearings, Wake County Bar Association, May 2020
How to Represent a Domestic Violence Victim in a DVPO Hearing, Legal Aid of North Carolina, November 2019
Common Mistakes in Family Court, Wake County Bar Association, August 2018.
Legal Issues in Distribution, Advanced Family Law: Issues in Equitable Distribution, North Carolina Judicial College, July 2018.
Management Strategies for Custody Cases, Special Topic Seminar for District Court Judges: Child Custody, North Carolina Judicial College, UNC School of Government, April 2017.
Professionalism for New Attorneys Seminar, North Carolina Advocates for Justice, November 2016.
The Child's Advocate CLE Training for Volunteer Attorneys, Legal Aid of North Carolina, October 2016, June 2017.
How to be a Better Parent Coordinator: A View from the Bench, Wake County Bar Association, August 2016.
Family Law Practice 2016: How-Tos, Hot Topics and Handy Techniques, North Carolina Advocates for Justice, February 2016.
Equitable Distribution Presumptions, Family Law Basics, Wake County Bar Association, August 2015.
The Law Relating to Firearms and Domestic Violence, Special Topic Seminar: Domestic Violence, UNC School of Government, March 2015.
Family Law Update, Wake County Bar Association, August 2013.
Race and Gender in the Legal Profession: What's Our Current Status?, North Carolina Center for Voter Education (with Judge Wanda Bryant and Bert Brandenburg), September 2005. Manuscript title: Creating a New Tradition: Family-Friendly Practices in the Legal Profession.
You’re Climbing the Wrong Ladder: Why and How to Start Your Own Law Practice, North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys Annual Conference (with Leah Broker), October 2004. Manuscript title: Ten Mistakes Small and Solo Law Firms Should Avoid.
Basics of Business Law for Non-Practitioners: What You Should Know About Business Law in North Carolina, North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys Annual Conference, October 2003.