Get To Know Me

I am a son of Santa Cruz County — born and raised in Nogales, and a proud alum of our public schools. This community shaped who I am and giving back to it is what drives my work every day. As Justice of the Peace, my commitment to public service will continue to be rooted in fairness, compassion, and respect for every person, supported by a deep cultural and legal understanding built over 25 years of direct experience as a practicing attorney. 

Experience

A former student of Pierson Elementary School (go Eagles!), Wade Carpenter Middle School (go Diablos!), and Nogales High School (go Apaches!), I left for college at 17 years of age with a scholarship from George Washington University in Washington, DC. Four years later, I came back to Arizona on a scholarship to ASU's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law where I obtained my Juris Doctor degree.

 

For over two decades, I have practiced as a licensed attorney and, during the past two years, have served my hometown community as Santa Cruz County Justice of the Peace (December 2023 through December 2024), and Patagonia Municipal Judge Pro Tem (January 2025 to the present). 

 

Protecting individual rights and upholding the law with deep knowledge, understanding, and integrity remains at the center of my work. My priority has always been to support a Justice Court that is competent, efficient, fair, compassionate, and accessible to everyone in our county.

Service to Community

My commitment to public service extends beyond the courtroom. From mentoring youth and volunteering with local nonprofits — including the Pimeria Alta Historical Society and Museum, the Cultural Arts Committee of Nogales, the Rio Rico Rotary Club, and the Boys and Girls Club of Nogales — to founding the Santa Cruz County Justice Project, a nonprofit, pro bono legal advocacy center serving our county, I  have always been commited to making our community better for all of us. Every part of this work reflects a simple belief: our community deserves accessible, people‑centered public service and a justice system that treats everyone with respect.

Values

The values of hard work, resilience, public service, fairness, integrity, and respect for everyone were woven into my daily life at an early age. For years, I have watched my family lead by example — my mother, as a steadfast supporter of our local Catholic church, and my father as a dedicated and trusted trades and craftsman in our community. 

 

Growing up around that kind of work ethic, discipline, and commitment made it clear for me that meaningful work, done with honesty and humility, is one of the strongest ways to serve others.

 

Those early lessons continue to guide my efforts and commitment to treating everyone with dignity, showing up with integrity, and working hard for my community every day.