I was born and raised in Nashville, with my sisters Janice Podis Hertz and Vicky Podis Jacobs. My parents, Micky and Sylvia Podis, always instilled in us a sense of community service. I graduated from Bellevue High School. I earned my Associates in Social Work from Aquinas Junior College and my BS in Sociology from Tennessee Tech. I attended Cumberland School of Law of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, an American Bar Association accredited school, from 1983 to 1986. I was a member and contributing writer to the Cumberland School of Law Trial Journal from 1984 to 1986, and participant in the mock trial program. I was honored to receive the Proctor in Admiralty.
From June 1985 to August 1985, I participated in a student swap program coordinated between the Cumberland School of Law and Stetson Law School, in Pinellas County, St. Petersburg, Florida, under the guidance of the Office of the Public Defender, 20th Judicial Circuit, St. Petersburg, Florida. As a third year law school student, I personally tried many misdemeanor bench trials for indigent defendants, appointed to be represented by the Office of the Public Defender.
After taking and passing the bar exam in the summer of 1986, I was admitted to the Tennessee Bar October 11, 1986, and became a member of the Nashville and the Tennessee Bar Associations.
I have been actively practicing law for over 26 years. I began my practice in the office of Jack Green on Nolensville Road in Nashville. I learned so much from Mr. Green and began handling a variety of cases from personal injury, divorce, Social Security Disability and working on the Mental Health Docket at General Sessions. I have handled over 35,000 files, including consumer bankruptcy. My office has been in the same location on Murfreesboro Pike for over 24 years.
I have raised my son Jeff Podis in Nashville and am proud to say he is thriving as a Sophmore at Centre College of Kentucky. I have been married to Cindy Podis for ten years in January.
I am running for General Sessions Court Division II because I have a strong belief the judicial system should be fair and just to everyone, no matter the socio-economic background. Everyone should be treated equally. My platform of equal justice for all, rich or poor, encompasses the motto I have lived by my entire life. I do quite a bit of pro bono work each year to ensure everyone has access to the courts. It is an important part of my legal practice.
I believe General Sessions Court is the Court in which most citizens come into contact, from either traffic tickets or small claims actions. It is important for everyone to see the system is fair to all.