MEET
ALEXANDRA
Rooted in Public Service
Alexandra was born and raised in Rochester, NY. She and her younger brother Michael attended Catholic School, where she learned the values of community service and advocating for those who have less. Her mom, Pam, and her dad, Mike, both worked as public servants, and consistently uplifted the ideals of civic engagement.
Inspired by her parents’ example, Alexandra chose a path of public service early on. She attended Northeastern University School of Law, renowned for its focus on public interest law. During her first year, she came to understand that the strength of our legal system depends on strong, ethical advocates for both the prosecution and the defense. Her father served as a police officer, and she grew up viewing the justice system through a law enforcement lens; as she started her own legal career, she decided to explore another perspective, and she eventually committed herself to becoming a defense attorney, fighting for the wrongly accused and ensuring that constitutional rights are protected for everyone.
During law school, Alexandra interned at a public defender’s office; a small civil rights firm in Boston; a human rights and civil liberties organization in London; and Housing & Elder Law Legal Services in Cambridge, MA, building the foundation for a career dedicated to justice.
A Proven Advocate for Justice
In 2009, Alexandra moved to the Bay Area and started volunteering at the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, assisting clients facing unlawful detainers. In 2010, she was hired at the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, where she has been ever since.
For over a decade, Alexandra has worked tirelessly to protect the rights of the most marginalized members of our community; all of her clients have been low-income, and many have been people of color, disabled, and LGBTQ. She is a formidable trial attorney having tried over 50 cases, including multiple homicides and other serious matters.
Her advocacy is fearless but always grounded in professionalism and integrity. Alexandra is widely known at the Hall of Justice as a smart, reasonable, and ethical attorney who treats everyone with respect. She knows that justice requires both strength and fairness.
Ready to Serve as Judge
In 2023, Alexandra became the Public Defender staff attorney in two collaborative courts – Drug Court and Community Justice Court. In those courts, defense attorneys, prosecutors, treatment teams, and judges work together to help clients treat the underlying issues that bring people into the criminal legal system.
Through this work, Alexandra realized the incredible impact that thoughtful and fair judges can have on many aspects of people’s lives. She realized that from the bench, she could serve a wider portion of the community by ensuring that the system works for everyone, from victims to those accused of crimes.
Her experience working at civil rights organizations, her years as a formidable public defender, and her longstanding commitment to the community, motivated Alexandra to run for judge.
Alexandra has also built a flourishing life in San Francisco. She met her husband, Christopher in 2017, and their daughter, Campbell, was born in 2024. Like many other San Francisco families, they are renters. You can find them most weekends enjoying the Presidio Heights Playground and the Presidio Branch Library, or strolling through the Inner Richmond Farmer’s Market!
