By: Ava Tello
⏰Sat, 12/30 09:21AM · 25mins
Summary
The transcript summarizes a conversation between myself and Judge Gutierrez, focusing on the judge's background and journey to his current position, his perspectives on higher education, advice for Latino students, role in promoting equal access in the legal system, and views on key issues affecting his community. Key details include attending UCLA then University of Michigan Law School, serving as a prosecutor for 14 years before being appointed judge, obstacles like lacking attorney/judge role models, value of college for growth and opportunities, the importance of 'dreaming big', limits on supporting external programs as a judge, priority on fairness and public protection in court, and setting an example as a Latino judge. I appreciated getting to take this brief look into the mind of a judge, who expressed his determination for fairness and equality in his community that I share within my own.
Chapters
Judge's Background and Path to Judgeship
Judge Gutierrez outlines his journey from attending UCLA as an undergrad focused on law enforcement, to going to University of Michigan Law School on encouragement from his parents, clerking in Washington D.C., working as a prosecutor in L.A. for 14 years, and ultimately being appointed judge 9 years ago by the governor.
Facing and Overcoming Obstacles
The judge notes obstacles like lacking attorney or judge role models growing up and overcoming the challenge of adjusting to a new environment away from California during law school in Michigan.
Views on Higher Education
Judge Guitierrez strongly advocates pursuing higher education for personal growth, exposure to new ideas, increased career opportunities and earning potential based on his experience as a first-generation college graduate.
Advice for Latino Students
The key advice offered to Latino students pursuing higher education is to 'dream big' about careers they are passionate regarding, even if the path there seems unclear or out of reach.
Promoting Equal Access and Fairness
While limited in directly supporting external programs, Judge Guitierez prioritizes equal court access, fairness, and public protection, also setting an example as a Latino judge that students can potentially relate to.
Issues Facing His Community
The judge sees ensuring fair treatment and protecting the public in court as the most pressing issue, also setting an example through his Latino identity and commitment to fairness.
Conclusion
Leaders are not always politicians who create policies for their constituents. They can be people like Judge Gutierrez: someone who is involved in guiding the younger generation to follow their passions and learn how to lead the way.
Judge Gutierrez 00:00
Ava 00:21
Hi, Judge Guitierez, this is Ava.
Judge Gutierrez 00:21
Hi, how are you? How are you doing?
Ava 00:21
I'm doing good, doing good, just getting ready for senior year and all that type of stuff right now.
Judge Gutierrez 00:35
All right, certainly a lot to look forward to. And I'm sure you'll do great. Now, your mom had said that it's probably easier for you if you record and that's fine. So I'll try to talk clearly and slowly enough.
Judge Gutierrez 00:54
Let me know, okay?
Ava 00:56
Got it, of course. So basically the point of this interview is I'm compiling interviews of just different Latino leaders in our community and just hearing about their story and their journey and their perspective on their community and possibly like what they think of our education systems for Latino students as well.
Ava 01:22
So I'm just gonna ask you, I have a couple of brief questions and you can feel free to answer them however you feel. And so I'm just gonna ask them right now. First question is describe briefly your journey to get to the position that you are in today and any obstacles that you have faced on this journey.
Judge Gutierrez 01:52
So the best way to describe this would be I went to college from high school. I was fortunate to attend UCLA, which is a great school and I had a great experience there. And around my junior year, I started to think of what I might want to do after college.
Judge Gutierrez 02:20
I was interested in law enforcement, being a police officer or ultimately applying to the FBI. But at the same time, I really enjoyed reading and writing critically. And it was my mom and dad who talked with me and encouraged me to consider applying to law school.
Judge Gutierrez 02:45
And that's what I did. I applied to several law schools. Ultimately, I chose to go to the University of Michigan, which is a great school far from home. But I wanted a different experience. I went to school there.
Judge Gutierrez 03:05
And then after University of Michigan, I clerked in Washington, DC for about a year. And then I returned to California to LA and applied to the DA's office. I got hired. I was a prosecutor for 14 years.
Judge Gutierrez 03:25
And then towards the end of my career, I think in the year 2013, I applied to become a judge. I applied to the governor's office. And the governor appointed me. And I've been on the bench for, that's going to be nine years this November.
Judge Gutierrez 03:44
And in terms of obstacles, I think that for me, some obstacles, if you will, were, I didn't know any attorneys growing up at all. I certainly didn't know any judges. So I didn't really have role models that I could look up to or ask questions of.
Judge Gutierrez 04:08
And going to law school away from home was a big challenge because I had never really been away from home in a new environment, especially Michigan was just different than California. It's certainly a lot colder.
Judge Gutierrez 04:26
And that was something that took some getting used to. So I think, I mean, those are the ones that stand out is not the two that stand out for me are not really having role models or examples and, you know, kind of forging a new path.
Judge Gutierrez 04:48
But I, you know, I accepted the challenge and here I am.
Ava 04:54
Mm -hmm. That's really interesting. Nine years, that's really cool. What do you feel is the most important issue in your community that you feel that you think is most prevalent today that you think that you can have an immediate, that you feel like you could attack today?
Ava 05:14
Any sort of issue that you see as a judge or just in general in your community?
Judge Gutierrez 05:22
Well, for me, the community I serve, I sit in the Compton Superior Court and I sit in a criminal assignment. So every day, Monday through Friday, I see persons that are in my court charged with crimes.
Judge Gutierrez 05:42
And then I also will see, occasionally, not as much as the individual's charges of crimes, I will see the victims of crime. So for me, the biggest issue affecting the community that I serve is making sure people are treated fairly in my court and protecting the public, which is also part of my job.
Judge Gutierrez 06:06
And being a judge, appearances are very important. So I try to remember that being Latino and being in court, I'm setting an example for those that are observing me, even people accused of crimes. I have to think what example am I setting for everybody?
Judge Gutierrez 06:35
They obviously see me and they see my last name, they hear me when I speak. And it's important for me to project that I'm fair, that to a certain degree, not always, I can relate to people and that I'll do everything I can to make sure everyone's treated fairly.
Judge Gutierrez 07:01
So I hope that answers the question, but that's the biggest issue for me as a judge every day in the assignment that I sit in.
Ava 07:13
Yeah, that answered my question. I think that's also really important, just being able to set an example, especially as someone who has that much power over just what's going on, and especially in criminal justice, it's a lot of just determining what you see as fair.
Ava 07:33
What is your perspective on pursuing higher education after high school, and how do you think that you would answer this question back when you were applying to college? Like, how do you feel about pursuing college?
Judge Gutierrez 07:51
Oh, you're saying higher education after high school? Yes. I'm for it 100% for a lot of reasons. I could probably go on and on, but I also understand that you want sort of, you know, some concise answers, but I think it's great to go to college after high school for the simple reason that you're growing and you're learning and you're exposing yourself to new ideas and different people.
Judge Gutierrez 08:27
I'm all for pursuing knowledge in practical terms, as I'm sure you're aware, perhaps your parents have shared with you. Your potential for landing a career that you really are going to enjoy and, you know, your earning capacity is going to increase if you go to college versus not going to college.
Judge Gutierrez 09:00
That's a big reason to, I think, that exposing yourself to different ideas and seeking higher education generally is just going to make you a better, well -rounded person and someone that can contribute to society in a positive way.
Judge Gutierrez 09:20
So going back to, you know, one of my answers about my journey and my immediate family, I'm the first person to graduate from college. I was fortunate to have a cousin in my extended family that went to a great school, he went to Berkeley, and so he was a role model in that way, but none of my sort of aunts or uncles, certainly not my grandparents, none attended college or got, you know, an advanced degree.
Judge Gutierrez 10:01
And the same is true for graduate school or professional school, which is, you know, law school. Again, you know, getting a four -year degree from a college or university is a great accomplishment, you know, something that someone should be very proud of, and pursuing an advanced degree, you know, professional degree or graduate degree after that is, you know, something to be even more proud of.
Judge Gutierrez 10:27
So I think it's a wonderful thing. I think it's a great thing. Unfortunately, nowadays it's expensive and, you know, there are a lot of factors that go into that, but, you know, it's certainly something that I would encourage my own children to pursue.
Ava 10:51
Yeah, I think that's really important. I know my parents are also big on me and my sister going to college and I'm all for it. I'm applying right now actually, so it's that. That's great. Yeah. Exciting yet just stressful all at the same time.
Judge Gutierrez 11:09
Right, a little bit scary.
Ava 11:10
Yeah. Um, going kind of, um, along with that, what is one piece of advice that you would give to Latino students that are wanting to pursue college and beyond that graduate programs?
Judge Gutierrez 11:26
The one piece of advice that I would have is something I've said to students I've mentored in the past. If you're gonna dream, dream big. That's my advice, is you want to envision and picture yourself doing that thing that excites you, that you're passionate about, and it might be scary thinking about how you're gonna get there, especially if you don't know someone in that field or in that position.
Judge Gutierrez 12:01
But if you're going to try to achieve something, dream big. If you want to pursue that career that seems so out of reach, it all starts with that thought and imagining yourself there. So whether it is being an attorney, going to medical school, being a veterinarian, whatever it may be, you have to start somewhere, and sometimes that first step may be the hardest, but people have had similar dreams and have gotten there.
Judge Gutierrez 12:46
It may not have been easy, but you can get there. So that's the biggest piece of advice, and that's what I've told to students that I've mentored in the past.
Ava 12:56
That's really important. My teachers tell me something similar to that and try and make sure we stay ambitious and just always stay inspired to want more since we never want to just be comfortable but always think that we can achieve more.
Ava 13:19
I have another question. As a criminal justice judge, are there any initiatives or programs that you have supported that possibly help improve equal access within the legal system? Are there any sort of improvements that you have supported to make sure that there's that equal share of justice in the legal system?
Judge Gutierrez 13:47
Right, I remember seeing this question when I spoke with your mom. And the short answer is I'm very limited as a judge in what I can support if you will. So if I could answer this, the best way is what I have done as a judge, and it was more before the pandemic.
Judge Gutierrez 14:13
After that, it became very hard is I have spoken at career days for schools and also to high school students about what I do as a judge, sometimes answering their questions similar to yours as to how I arrived at the position that I currently have.
Judge Gutierrez 14:38
And just speaking with them and hopefully they see me and they see, oh, you know, he's Latino and he's a judge. You know, there's someone that has this job that maybe I can relate to a little bit. But in terms of any programs or initiatives, there are so many ethical rules for being a judge that it's difficult to support programs because you always want to, you have to appear neutral at all times.
Judge Gutierrez 15:11
So, you know, you can say I'm 100 percent, which I am, committed to access to the courts and, you know, fairness to all people. But when it comes to programs, unfortunately, you're very limited as to when you can participate in.
Judge Gutierrez 15:35
So an example would be, and I'll tell you, I might have, I don't know if I shared this with your mom, I might have touched on it, that I was in this program through a school district nearby called College Bound and it was to mentor kids that were first generation college applicants.
Judge Gutierrez 15:55
You know, great program. And I participated in it for about almost five years, going to the school on Saturdays to meet with the students and encourage them, you know, encourage them to apply to college, answer questions.
Judge Gutierrez 16:11
You know, during the program, they wanted to put like my picture on a website and I was told that they probably could not just because I'm a judge, you know, kind of something that surprised me because it was not for profit.
Judge Gutierrez 16:30
But that's just an example of how limited it, you know, it can be for me in terms of getting involved in certain activities.
Ava 16:44
Yeah, I think that's important to kind of remember just when kind of thinking about like like the judicial system versus like politicians and just that difference and Understanding how both systems work.
Ava 17:00
So that's important to keep in mind. Yeah
Judge Gutierrez 17:02
That's a great point that you raised. You're right.
Ava 17:08
Yeah, well I just, I know that you touched on getting into law school from transitioning from wanting to go into law enforcement, but what it kind of inspired you to go from being a lawyer to pursuing becoming a judge?
Ava 17:24
Like I know that you explained the process, but what kind of like motivated you to pursue a career as a judge?
Judge Gutierrez 17:32
Well, that's a great question. I really enjoyed being a prosecutor. I enjoyed standing up for victims and seeking justice on their behalf. I was a prosecutor for 14 years. And without going into too much detail, the cases that I was prosecuting were very serious.
Judge Gutierrez 17:59
I was doing, at one point, child molestation cases and cases of that nature. And then I went into the hardcore gang division, which was prosecuting, quite frankly, the majority of my cases were murders and attempted murders, just very violent offenses.
Judge Gutierrez 18:26
And it was... The job became and was very demanding. I became a dad, and I wasn't seeing my family as much as I wanted to. My sons were babies. And working very, very long hours. I mean, sometimes coming home and seeing my children and going back to the office and working till midnight or one in the morning for days at a time, and that's not an exaggeration, working on weekends quite a bit and holidays.
Judge Gutierrez 19:09
And so as much as the job was important, I don't think I was going to be able to sustain that type of drive, you know. And I also thought it would be a great time to transition to a different role and be fair, you know, use my skills, my training and my background to try to dispense justice for people.
Judge Gutierrez 19:40
And as a prosecutor, I mean, my job wasn't to put people in prison. It was to seek justice, and sometimes that means resolving cases. Sometimes it means, you know, not proceeding on a case if you don't think that you can prove it.
Judge Gutierrez 20:02
And being a judge, I'm able to use everything I've learned, all my skills, my training, my education, to try to do the right thing, which is great. You know, that's what I enjoy the most about it.
Ava 20:19
That's really cool. Maybe my dad will possibly think about coming to judge possibly maybe.
Judge Gutierrez 20:26
Maybe he'll be up there one day. This is true.
Ava 20:30
Yeah. Always good to dream big. I just have one more question for you, and that's kind of more, well, I'm in the acting conservatory, so I just want to know what is your favorite movie and why?
Judge Gutierrez 20:45
That's a great question. And I think I can answer it right now. My favorite movie probably, I'll have to say, is Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first movie in the Indiana Jones series. Why is it my favorite movie?
Judge Gutierrez 21:09
This is easy. It's my favorite movie because I can remember my father taking me to the theater to see it as a boy. And just really feeling like, look, I am so into this film that Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford, is such a great actor, is the ultimate hero.
Judge Gutierrez 21:36
He's funny. He fights the bad guys. He has this beautiful woman co -starring with him. And it was an escape, right? It's kind of that type of a movie that you see it as a kid and you go, gosh, if I could be a hero, if I could be in a film, I would love to be in this.
Judge Gutierrez 21:58
And the truth is, whenever it's on, like, direct TV, if I'm going through the channels and I see it, I'm always almost going to stop and watch the film, no matter what part it's at. And it's fun. I think the best movies are the ones that help you escape from the world, or they take you back to a certain place.
Judge Gutierrez 22:23
And you feel like I'm in this place right now. So that's it. It's fun. It's a total Saturday popcorn movie. And that's probably why, if anyone asked me, I would say that's it. That's the one.
Ava 22:42
Well, thank you so much for getting on this call with me and answering these questions. I really appreciate it and I also love that movie too, so I totally get it. But yeah, thank you so much. And what will happen is I will take what we've talked about, I'm gonna write down a transcript and just kind of a draft of what was said and I'll send it to you just to look it over and make sure everything sounds accurate and everything.
Ava 23:17
And then I'll just take it from there. But thank you so much for being a part of this.
Judge Gutierrez 23:24
I'm sure you're the very best. You know, your mom and I talked for, you know, almost like 25 minutes and she told me about your project. I hope it goes great and you have a lot of exciting things to look forward to coming up in your senior years.
Judge Gutierrez 23:42
So I'll be crossing my fingers for sure that everything works out for the best. Whenever you want to send it to me, you know, there's certainly not a rush, but I'll be more than happy to take a look at it.
Ava 23:54
Thank you so much.
Judge Gutierrez 23:56
Thank you Hector, we appreciate it. Oh, anytime and give my best and everyone. We will. Okay. Thank you. You too. You too. Thank you, bye. Good interview.
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