What are your key priorities for this legislative session, and what are your biggest concerns?

Expanding Medicaid has been a priority for State Senate Democrats for over a decade now. Given the pandemic, the need for Medicaid expansion is even greater this year than it ever has been. Even before COVID-19, over 800,000 Floridians would have had access to affordable and quality health care through Medicaid expansion. After a rough economic year, that number is likely even larger today. We must pass Medicaid expansion so that we can ensure that every Floridian has access to quality health care.

What issues will be taken up this session that you think lawyers need to be most informed about? What issues do lawyers raise to you?

There is a vast spectrum of issues that could be more or less important to various attorneys based on their area of practice, but it is important to remember that every law we have rests on the foundation established by the U.S. Constitution. This year, there are numerous bills moving through the Florida Legislature that seek to damage that foundation in a fundamental way. Through direct attacks on the right to free speech and the ability to participate in free and fair elections, I truly believe that the republican nature of our state government is at risk this legislative session. With this in mind, I would strongly urge my fellow attorneys to pay close attention to HB 1/SB 484 and SB 90. These bills directly conflict with the democratic principles that we depend on in order to provide good governance.

What is your stance on COVID-19 lawsuit liability immunity for Florida businesses? Which sectors should or shouldn't be entitled to it and why?

The idea that businesses are facing an onslaught of COVID-related liability lawsuits is a myth fabricated by insurance companies and larger businesses who wish to seize this crisis as an opportunity to throw out much-needed protections for workers. There have only been a handful of COVID-related civil liability cases in Florida, because causation is already so hard to prove. Our civil courts are meant to hold the big guys accountable. The proposals we're looking at now seek to throw all of that accountability out the door.

What are the key skills and qualities you're looking for in judicial nominees, and why?

All attorneys are required to attain a certain level of education and must maintain a level of proficiency through continuing education, so mental competence is essentially assumed in all judicial candidates, and most who seek to serve on the bench have excelled in their practice of law — or they should have to be considered.

So, for me, to distinguish between competent candidates, it comes down to human traits like temperament, patience, wisdom and compassion. Legal disputes are very stressful for the parties, so judges should exude calmness and understanding while being somewhat patient, even if things are not progressing in a preferred manner. A judge should be wise, which means utilizing his or her legal and life experiences along with knowledge and applying them with good judgement. This legal wisdom should come with a dose of empathy and compassion, as not all fact patterns and circumstances are the same.

How has your experience as a lawyer shaped your approach to government service and leadership?

I believe that the analytical skills taught in law school and honed in practice make lawyers uniquely qualified and effective to be good legislators. Being able to assess complex facts and then identify problems and solutions to those problems is an invaluable skill set for legislators. And for lawyers with trial practice experience, the ability to not only analyze but persuade form the basis for leadership qualities and skills.