Maria Lopez facts for kids
Maria Lopez (born September 12, 1953) is a Cuban-American who used to be a judge. She also had her own TV show called Judge Maria Lopez.
Judge Lopez made history as the first Latina to become a judge in Massachusetts. She was chosen as a District Court Judge by Governor Michael Dukakis. Later, in 1993, she made history again as the first Latina to be appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court. Judge Lopez worked as a Superior Court judge and also as an assistant attorney general in the civil rights part of the Massachusetts Attorney General's office. This means she helped protect people's basic rights.
She was married to Stephen Mindich, who owned the Boston Phoenix newspaper. She lives in Newton, Massachusetts. Maria Lopez has two sons, Michael (born 1983) and David (born 1985). They both went to the University of Michigan. They are her sons from her first marriage to Richard Michaud.
Lopez studied Government at Smith College and earned a special law degree called a Juris Doctor from Boston University.
Contents
Maria Lopez: A Trailblazing Judge
Maria Lopez became a judge and helped make important decisions in court. She was known for being fair and for her important work in the legal world.
Her Early Career and Appointments
Judge Lopez started her career helping people in the legal system. She worked as an assistant attorney general. This job meant she helped the state's main lawyer, called the Attorney General. She focused on civil rights, which are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person.
Later, she was chosen to be a judge. This was a very important step because she was the first Latina woman to hold such a position in Massachusetts. This opened doors for many others.
Presiding Over Important Cases
As a judge, Maria Lopez oversaw many different types of cases. One of the most well-known was a long and complex case about a supermarket chain called DeMoulas. This case was about who should control parts of the family business.
The trial was very long and cost a lot of money. Judge Lopez made important decisions in this case. Even after many appeals, her rulings were supported by higher courts. This showed that her decisions were strong and correct.
Her Television Show
On September 11, 2006, Maria Lopez started her own TV show called Judge Maria Lopez. On this show, real people came to her court to solve their disagreements. Each episode might have two smaller cases or one larger case.
The show ran for two seasons. Even though it didn't have the highest viewership, it allowed many people to see how a judge works and how legal problems can be solved.
See also
- List of Hispanic and Latino American jurists
- List of first women lawyers and judges in Massachusetts
