Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez

9/16/2024

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we're recognizing diverse voices in the judiciary. The following features Cook County Circuit Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez and her thoughts on her career, diversity on the bench, and more.

What inspired you to pursue law, and eventually, become a judge?

In college, I majored in criminal justice and sociology. I liked criminal justice because I found it way less confusing than most subjects. I was always interested in things being fair and felt that people should be held accountable for their actions. I knew many people that were the victims of crimes and wanted to be a voice for those who needed to be heard. I went to law school with the intention of becoming a prosecutor and ultimately moved to Chicago to start my career. After nearly 18 years of working as a prosecutor, I wanted to have the opportunity to serve in a larger capacity. I wanted to be able to help more people. Having had the opportunity to appear before many judges throughout my career, I knew that being a judge would allow me to have a greater impact on my community. I am extremely grateful and humbled to be given the opportunity to serve as a judge.

Who has been the biggest influence in your life and/or career?

My grandmother was always my hero. She had to quit school in the third grade to take care of her younger siblings since her father died and her mother was forced to get a job. My grandmother always worked hard in everything that she did and for everything that she had, she was thankful. As a child, my mother, a social worker, always stressed the importance of education. She reminded me that no matter what happens in life, no one can take your education from you. While in law school, I came to Chicago to attend a "Prosecutorial Opportunities Symposium." There were attorneys at the event from the United States Attorney's Office, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, the City of Chicago, and the Illinois Attorney General's Office. It was that event that I, for the first time in my life, met prosecutors that looked like me-female Latinas. I was so amazed and excited listening to each detail they gave about their jobs. I wanted to be just like them and have this job that they loved so much. One of the people that I met was an attorney by the name of Mercedes Luque-Rosales. She was an Assistant State's Attorney at the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. She gave me her card and told me to keep in touch and I did. The next year I returned to attend the event again and was even more inspired. Ultimately, I interviewed and was hired by the CCSAO. At that time, only about 3% of applicants were hired as Assistant State's Attorneys. Mercedes continued to mentor me throughout my career and became a friend. Unfortunately, she passed away a few years ago, before I became a judge, but I am sure that she was smiling down from heaven when it happened. Having these strong Latina women in my life as role models and mentors gave me the confidence that I needed to push myself to achieve my goals.

When you reflect on your career, what accomplishment are you most proud of?

The accomplishment that I am most proud of in my career is being the first Puerto Rican judge ever appointed and elected to a countywide judicial position in Cook County. I am originally from Cleveland and moved to Chicago after law school. I knew almost no one in Chicago at the time. After years of working here, establishing my reputation, and making connections, I was appointed to the bench in 2019 and elected in 2020. As an attorney who was in court nearly every day of my career, I never once had the opportunity to step up before a Latina judge. Now, I am proud to say that so many other Latinas are becoming judges and am excited about a judiciary that actually represents all of the community.

Why is diversity important on the bench?

Diversity on the bench is important because it allows all people to be represented. It instills faith and integrity in our judicial system. It is not just one group of people making decisions for another group but instead allows individuals with different experiences and perspectives to use those experiences in applying the law. It allows the public to see people that look like them serving in this important position of trust.

What is one of your favorite traditions or customs of your culture? (Ex. Food, Special Event, etc.)

There are many Puerto Rican traditions that I enjoy, but my absolute favorite is being part of a parranda. A parranda is a group of people who gather during the Christmas season to sing Christmas songs outside your home accompanied by instruments. Typically, you do not know that you will be receiving a parranda. It is normal for friends or family members to bring a parranda to the home of other loved ones. They sing at your door until you let them inside where you serve them snacks, appetizers and beverages-especially coquito. More songs are sung inside and then you join the parranda and go surprise the next recipient of the parranda. This continues throughout the night. During the Christmas season as a Puerto Rican, your house must always be prepared to receive guests which means always having food and coquito ready. As a child, our house received many parrandas and I have memories of being sound asleep, then awakened by music and looking out my window to a driveway with 30 plus people. Another tradition that I enjoyed as a child was celebrating Three Kings Day. Before going to sleep, I would leave grass under my bed for the camels of the kings. When I awoke, the grass was gone, and I had gifts left to me by the Three Kings.

Why do you think it's important to recognize Hispanic heritage, not just this month, but every day?

I believe it is important to recognize Hispanic heritage everyday so that those who are different can learn about our culture. The more we learn about other cultures, the more we learn about what makes us different. However, what we soon realize is that we are way more alike than we are different. Once we start to realize this truth, we can become more open to other people and cultures and become unified as people instead of separated by perceived differences.

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