District Judge 22nd Judicial District - 2nd Division

‍ ‍In 2008, I was hired as a Lexington Public Defender. At first, I represented folks primarily in Fayette District Court, including Juvenile Court and Truancy Court.

From 2013 - 2019, I was Directing Attorney of Lexington South Office. I supervised a fully staffed office while carrying a large felony caseload in Fayette Circuit Court. During this period, I was also an Adjunct Professor in UK Law School's Externship Program.

I transferred to Capital Trials Branch-East in 2022, where I remain now, representing clients in Eastern Kentucky facing death penalty eligible crimes.

My District Court experience makes me the most qualified candidate for Fayette District Judge. After representing thousands of clients in Fayette District Court, I am able to communicate plainly about the law and court process.

I enjoy a good rapport with Fayette County Attorneys, Court Staff, Jail Staff, Probation Officers, Sheriff's Office, and Police.

I am experienced with dysfunctions which can bring, and sometimes keep, people in Court. My experience incorporates outreach to community programs and systems of recovery to provide chances for rehabilitation and healing.

The lack of resources for Specialty Courts (Drug Courts & Mental Health Court) and Court Mediation Programs cripples a Judge's ability to address fully underlying reasons that pull people into court and prevent them from breaking free. Judges face a challenge to rework systems of recovery and rehabilitation that mirror the structure and accountability of Specialty Courts in providing support services to individuals suffering from mental illness, addiction, PTSD, unemployment, housing insecurity, and other adverse conditions.

A Judge's job is to apply the law in a fair and impartial manner to the facts of each case. If elected, I shall apply the law, with compassion and respect for all parties, ensuring that cases progress, with judgment rendered in a fair and impartial manner. I shall seek to address underlying issues with the help of community based programs.

If Specialty Courts continue to operate, my goal is to participate. However, if these Courts are discontinued completely, I shall find an alternate avenue to provide services to individuals who are ready for a positive progression in their lives.

A judge's role is limited in this regard. However, I support the restoration of voting rights and expungements, when the law allows.

I spent over ten years as a prosecutor, handling cases from misdemeanors to some of the largest criminal trials in Kentucky. I spent three years in education law, protecting students and ensuring civil rights compliance. I serve as a Major in the United States Army Reserve, providing legal assistance to service members and their families. I currently sit on the Mayor's Racial Justice and Equity Commission and I serve as Chairman of LexArts. I also serve on the Lexington Public Library Foundation board and a Leadership Lexington alumnus. If elected, I will be the first Latino judge ever to serve on the bench in Lexington. I am running because Fayette County deserves experienced, fair, empathetic leadership on the bench and because I believe representation matters.

Experience. My career has been built on public service: over ten years as a prosecutor, three years overseeing Title IX compliance and civil rights investigations in our local school system, and ongoing service as a JAG officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. I currently serve on the Mayor’s Racial Justice and Equity Commission, where I have worked on issues of systemic bias and equity in our community. I am the son of immigrants and a first-generation attorney. I know what it feels like to walk into institutions that were not built with people like you in mind, and I have spent my career working to change that. If elected, I would be the first Latino judge ever to serve in Lexington, and I am committed to ensuring that all marginalized communities are treated with fairness and dignity in our courts.

First, access to fair treatment in the courtroom. I hope to ensure that the legal system is accessible to everyone, regardless of socioeconomic background, by addressing resource gaps, simplifying administrative processes, and supporting community focused legal education. Ten years as a Fayette County prosecutor taught me that the people who walk through those doors, often at the hardest moments of their lives, deserve a judge who listens, applies the law evenly, and treats every person with dignity, regardless of means or background.

Second, improving court efficiency and navigating through language barriers. District courts handle critical, fast-moving civil and criminal matters where litigants may have limited English proficiency. Ensuring meaningful access to justice requires managing systemic resource gaps, such as a shortage of certified court interpreters, translated documentation, and culturally competent support staff, while maintaining strict courtroom efficiency and constitutional due process.

I would like to create "Court 101" workshops that are hosted at local community centers, libraries, and schools in Lexington. A forum where residents learn how District Court works, what to expect during traffic, small claims, or landlord/tenant proceedings, and how to access vital court resources before a dispute ever escalates. By meeting people where they are, answering procedural questions in plain language, and fostering open dialogue about how the legal system operates, a judge can build lasting trust within underrepresented neighborhoods.

I would also hope to streamline the scheduling workflow for Fayette District Court’s high-volume arraignment and eviction dockets to ensure certified interpreters and translated informational notices are available before a case is called, eliminating preventable delays and ensuring due process for Lexington's limited English proficient residents.

Local outreach and fostering an open, transparent courtroom. Actively taking part in community based educational workshops across Lexington neighborhoods to explain how District Court works so residents feel informed. I would also hope to eliminate participation hurdles for limited English proficient residents by providing reliable translation resources and translated informational guides.