Each year, National Hispanic American Heritage Month celebrates the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans and their influence on U.S. history.
To recognize this month, we spoke with three Latina judges who are making an impact in the Illinois legal community.
In this spotlight, we hear from Cook County Circuit Court Judge Diana E. López, who was elected by the public and sworn in on December 5, 2022.
Judge López, who is the daughter of immigrants from Cuba and Ecuador, graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and received her J.D. with a certificate in child and family law from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
What inspired you to pursue a career in law?
While growing up, my parents emphasized the importance of education and a commitment to helping marginalized communities.
As a first-generation Latina, I experienced how hard my grandparents and parents worked to overcome language and financial barriers. The work ethic that I witnessed from both my grandparents and parents is one of the reasons I chose to go to law school.
I knew early on in my academic career that, like my parents who became teachers in the Chicago public schools, I too wanted to help families and children. My parents instilled in me a strong sense of social and civic responsibility, and it was the pursuit of these tenets that inspired me to pursue a career in law.
Purposefully, I attended Loyola University Law School, which at the time was the only Chicagoland law school that had a child and family law track for students.
Once I graduated from law school, I was hired by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and was an Assistant State’s Attorney for four years.
Continuing to pursue my passion for helping families and children, I was assigned to the Child Support Enforcement Division and the Child Protection Division.
In 2006, I founded my boutique law practice, López Law Group, P.C. During my years in private practice, I continued to hone my litigation and mediation skills representing couples in difficult and joyous life transitions.
Why did you want to become a judge?
During my 19th year in practice, after sending my daughter off to kindergarten, I began to focus on my dream of becoming a Cook County judge. I sought the guidance of mentors, who had been helping me along the way; they paved the way for opportunities that enhanced my career and experience in order to be considered for a judicial position.
Perhaps one of the most important roles that truly inspired me to serve as a judge was being appointed as a guardian ad litem/child representative. Since 2006, I’ve served as a guardian ad litem in the County Division and Domestic Relations Division of Cook County.
Representing the best interests of countless children and being their voice in the courtroom further inspired me to pursue a judicial appointment and to be an elected circuit judge.
As a representative of children, I exercised many skills similar to that of a judge — I listened carefully and made sound, well-reasoned recommendations to the judges who appointed me to the role.
Becoming a judge had been a goal of mine even as a young attorney. I wanted to attain that dream to continue to make an impact in the law from a different perspective.
Now as a serving judge, my experience in my law practice guides me on a daily basis. I listen actively and empathetically, I apply the law with careful consideration and integrity, and I am an example of respect and courtesy to all in my courtroom.
How do you manage a work-life balance?
Like anything important, creating opportunities for work-life balance must be prioritized.
On a daily basis, I have found that achieving both movement via a walk (at least 10,000 steps a day), a run or a bike ride, and stillness via meditation help me clear my mind.
This allows me to show up both at home for my family and at work for my colleagues, court staff, and the constituents of Cook County, ready to tackle the day ahead with a positive mindset.
I am currently the First District Co-Chair of the Illinois Judges Association Wellness Committee, which is dedicated to promoting wellness throughout the Illinois judiciary through programming, meetings, and challenges.
We are [participating in an] October 2024 Courthouse Challenge, where courthouses throughout Illinois are conquering collective and individual wellness challenges for the entire month. I’m particularly looking forward to the “step tracker” challenge with my Bridgeview courthouse colleagues!
As much as I can, I encourage my judicial colleagues and those around me to take a moment to prioritize movement and wellness in any way they can for as much time as they can. Walking, running, or meditating, just to name a few, are activities I can suggest to ease their minds and de-stress.
How have mentors influenced your career?
Mentorship has been an influential force in my life since elementary school.
First, during high school, I was a mentee in a program called Saturday Scholars which helped all students navigate college applications and visit colleges. The experience was extraordinarily impactful to my development as a student and guided me toward college and beyond. I later became a mentor in that same program and served as its Coordinator during law school.
Being able to build so many relationships with the students and other mentors in this program proved to be a pillar of my own mentorship skills. The program provided me with a foundation for mentorship and its many benefits. The benefits include, but are not limited to, support, guidance, goal setting, exposure to leadership skills, and the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Throughout college, law school, and the various facets of my professional life, my mentors have been a steady source of honest advice and support.
From my mentors, I have learned what good attributes to develop not only as an attorney but now as a judge. The attributes and crucial skills that I take to heart in my daily life are, to name a few, exercising good listening skills, such as being an empathetic and engaging listener; being respectful and treating everyone with dignity; and being dedicated to the highest of ethical standards.
During the trajectory of my career, I have been committed to mentoring any student or young lawyer I meet. I offer them opportunities to seek my help and guidance to explore diverse perspectives and to attend events to introduce them to other possible mentors.
I continue to hope that my presence and mentorship prove to be impactful to all of them.
How can judges help advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession?
Judges can help by fostering an inclusive courtroom environment and ensuring respect for all participants. Judges can also seek to be mentors to a diverse group of law students, new lawyers, and new judges.
Other ways that judges can promote DEI is to engage with diverse community groups and participate in outreach programs to advance access to justice.
Our Professionalism Spotlight recognizes legal professionals throughout Illinois who are admired for their professionalism and civility. Check out more interviews here.
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National Hispanic Heritage Month: Honoring Judicial Trailblazers in Illinois
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