The ability to achieve justice in criminal and civil cases by dealing with each case and the complainant separately. In many cases, complex legal issues must be resolved. Our decisions can have a lasting impact on the future course of action. The decisions of this court can have a profound impact on a person's life. As a district judge, we have the power to decide whether a person remains free in the community. Every day we must balance the rights of the accused to compensate victims for the harm they have suffered.

Our decisions are necessary to prevent wrongdoing and encourage legitimate activities, but at the same time still be able to provide the accused with the opportunity to become a constructive member of our community. These challenges are what make this job fun.

What was the biggest challenge you faced last year?

There are no courses or training in law school to be a judge to prepare you for the pandemic. It has been a difficult year because, in addition to maintaining a significant civil and criminal case, my responsibility has been to ensure the safety of judicial officers, judges, and the public in the exercise of our constitutional functions. When the coronavirus struck in March 2020, we all knew we were battling a highly contagious and fatal disease without treatment. Saving lives has become an important task. There was no manual explaining how to handle this situation. Fortunately, I had the help of a small team of highly qualified leaders who helped us deal with this crisis. Many sleepless nights, prayer and a little luck have made it through these difficult times.

What do you think is the biggest change in the legal industry?

I think the recent pandemic has prompted us to take a different approach to the way we do business in the courts. Remote work will become the norm and personal appearances will be less experienced. We hope this crisis will inspire everyone to think about the important things in life, too. Recent events in our societies have also opened our minds to the possibility of exploring other ways of law enforcement and how we govern it. It's always a good idea to take a step back and not keep doing things this way because it has become routine. Creativity can make a positive difference in the approach to justice.

Advice for law students

Follow what you think has an impact on our company. Let your heart and mind decide the direction of your legal career, not your bank account.