Born July 26, 1947 in Mobile, Alabama, the third of six daughters of the late Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Russell and the late Sybil Willis of Baldwin County, Alabama.  Grew up in the Air Force, living in South Dakota, Bermuda, Japan, and North and South Carolina.  Attended 15 schools before graduating from Chofu HS in Tokyo, Japan. 

Met the late Roger Baschab (USAF Capt., Retired) of Cherokee, Alabama, while both were attending Florence State College (now University of North Alabama) in Florence, Alabama; married in Bay Minette, Alabama, December 29, 1967. 

Education:  Attended (UNA), 1965-67.  BA, Outstanding Graduate, Criminal Justice Administration, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama.  Juris Doctorate, St. Mary’s University School of Law, San Antonio, Texas, receiving the American Jurisprudence Award for Constitutional Law.  In 1993 completed the General Jurisdiction Course at the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada.

UNA Activities and Association:  Enrolled in Florence State College in fall of 1965 and won the "Rat Race" during orientation.  Lived two years in Striplin Hall during which time Striplin won the Spirit Stick and Blood Drive trophy numerous times.  With several other Striplin girls, painted the "Star" one dark night.  Worked as residence hall hostess and assistant at Collier Library.  Was Student Government representative for sophomore class and first President of Rice Hall. A member of the UNA Alumni Association in Montgomery serving a short while as President.  In South Alabama, assisted in arranging an organizational meeting for a coastal UNA Alumni Association.  Honored with UNA Alumni Award for 2000. Past Committee member for Pauline Gravlee Inaugural Golf Tournament.  Late husband Roger and numerous other of his kin also attended UNA and Roger's uncle, Dr. Charles T. Gaisser, was a professor at UNA for 30 years.

Legal Career:  Assistant DA in Mobile County (Alabama) before working several years in family practice firm of Chason & Underwood in Foley, Alabama.  In 1987 set up private practice as Elberta’s (Alabama) first attorney.  Elected and served four years as Baldwin County (Alabama) District Judge, four years as Baldwin County Circuit Judge, and 12 years as Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Judge and Presiding Judge. Currently serving as an active judge in Circuit and District Courts.

Past Volunteer Activities: Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution.  Alabama District Court Judges Association (DCJA); Legislative Committee, DCJA; editorial board of The Alabama Lawyer; Education Committee, Alabama Administrative Office of Courts; Domestic Violence Model Penal Code Committee; and the Committee on Substance Abuse in Society, Alabama State Bar Association (ASBA);  Baldwin Business and Professional Women; Chamber of Commerce; American Business Women’s Association; Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence committee that wrote the Alabama model penal code for domestic violence; St. Thomas More Society in Montgomery, Alabama; Rotary; American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliaries; and the Christian Legal Society.  Charter member of the South Baldwin Republican Women, the Baldwin County Republican Coffee Club, and the AG Chapter of PEO. 

Co-chair: Alabama Task Force for Law Enforcement Training on Domestic Violence.  Board of Directors: Women’s Section, ASBA; Mary’s Place (Elberta, Alabama); Wolf Bay Water Watch; Baldwin Heritage Museum; and Snook Family YMCA (Foley).  A founder and Board Chair, The Refuge, Baldwin County, a resident treatment program for drug or alcohol addicted women.  A founder and Board Chair, Baldwin County Domestic Violence Task Force.  A founder, Baldwin County Mental Health Center Family Intervention Therapy (FIT) (a 12-week structured group therapy program that was a sentencing alternative for men facing criminal charges for family violence).  A founder, Parenting After Divorce and the first Alabama court referral programs.  A founder and charter member of the Women’s Section, Montgomery Chapter of the Alabama Bar Association; Vice President, East Montgomery Optimist Club; and Vice President, Montgomery County chapter, University of North Alabama Alumni Association.

Instructor: Continuing Legal Education Program, Alabama Bar Association. President, Montgomery chapter, UNA Alumni Association.

The Judge has spoken to more than 200 civic and political groups on domestic violence, judicial campaign finance reform, and women in politics. 

Recognition: G.U.T.S Award, Southwest Alabama Police Academy; Certificate of Merit, Penelope House, Inc. (Mobile domestic violence shelter); and Certificate of Appreciation, Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence.  Selected by the US Department of Justice to help approve projects that would receive Office of Victims of Crime grants for Family Violence Law Enforcement Training and Technical Assistance and Family Violence Information Dissemination.  American Business Women’s Association Top Ten Women of the Year.  Alabama State Employees Association District 9 Bishop Barron Awards for public service (2001 and 2002).  Pope Benedict XVI recognized her work for the Church and for charitable causes by awarding  her the Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice medal in 2006. 

Current:   Member: Alabama State Bar Association (ASBA); Colbert County Bar Association; Our Lady of the Shoals Women’s Society; Tuscumbia Civitan Club; American Legion Auxiliary (Post 31); Colbert County Republican Women’s Club; Optimist Club; President PEO, chapter S.

Publications: The definitive text, Domestic Violence Law in Alabama, published by the Alabama Bar Institute for Continuing Legal Education; The Alabama Lawyer:  Addendum:  “Order in the Court,” “Revenge of the Nerds”; The Alabama Lawyer: "Jury Nullification: The Anti Atticus"; Cumberland Law Review and the Quinnipiac Law Journal:  “Putting the Cash Cow Out to Pasture:  A Call to Arms for Campaign Finance Reform in the Alabama Judiciary,” 2000; Fordham Urban Law Journal:  “The Walking Judge From Alabama,” 2002. 

The Judge is a member of Our Lady of the Shoals Catholic Church, Tuscumbia, AL. She has three children and eight grandchildren.  Late husband Roger was a retired military officer (USAF, Captain).  Son John is a businessman in Dallas, Texas; daughter Denise is an attorney in private practice in Muscle Shoals, and daughter Mary Martha, is an attorney and Executive Administrator at Our Lady of the Shoals Catholic Church.