What is your practice area?

Criminal law. However, I am not practicing right now. After ten years as a federal prosecutor, I stepped down from my position as Assistant Chief of my office to run for Marin County District Attorney in 2018. I am excited about the opportunity to put my experience to use in serving my local community.

Why did you decide to become a lawyer?

I started my professional career on the Wall Street trading floor with JP Morgan Chase. In investment banking, I learned a lot about business and finance and paid off my student loans. But I have always been drawn towards public service. As the first in my family to graduate from college, I feel a responsibility to give back. I went to law school so that I could make positive change in my community.

Why do you live in Marin?

My husband grew up in Mill Valley and graduated from Tam High. I visited Marin for the first time with him about 25 years ago and instantly felt at home. When we were considering where to raise our family, Marin was the clear choice. We love the natural beauty, access to outdoors, top-notch schools, vibrant culture, and caring community.

What do you love to do when you are not busy practicing law?

When I have free time, I am trail running or mountain biking in the Marin Headlands and on Mount Tam. I recently discovered Crossfit, which has become one of my favorite new activities. I also love cheering for my kids on the baseball, soccer, and softball fields and at swim meets. When not involved in athletics and family activities, I am volunteering. I am a volunteer judge for Youth Court, a restorative justice program for juveniles, and I serve on the Marin Women's Commission.

Tell us about your family.

I have three children in the Mill Valley public schools: a 17-year old son, a 13-year old daughter, and a 9-year old daughter. My husband is an Ear, Nose, Throat doctor at UCSF. We met in college at Yale and have been married for 19 years.

If you could pursue another career besides law, what would it be and why?

I would be a teacher. Before I went to law school, I ran a program to bring SAT preparation to public schools in Los Angeles. I loved that experience and have continued to find ways to bring teaching into my legal career. I founded a program to bring lawyer volunteers into classrooms to teach the Constitution to kids. And in the fall semester, I teach a white-collar crime seminar at Berkeley Law that a colleague and I developed.

Why did you join MCBA?

I joined MCBA because I was excited to engage with our local community of lawyers. I especially enjoy participating in the Outreach and Diversity committees. My family is Puerto Rican and increasing diversity in the legal profession means a lot to me. At the United States Department of Justice, I led an outreach effort to recruit more diverse law students into our practice. As an MCBA Board member, I am excited to pursue similarly inclusive initiatives.

If you had to pick a single highlight of your career, what would it be?

In 2014, I moved to Sacramento for three months to try a case against three defendants for rigging bids at home foreclosure auctions. I led a team of six attorneys, four paralegals, several FBI agents, and a cadre of support staff. The case included two thousand exhibits, twenty witnesses, and numerous complex legal issues. After several long weeks of trial, the jury came back with convictions against the two primary real estate investors. It was a hard-fought case to cap off a multi-year investigation, but knowing that justice was served made it all worth it.