Meet Hon. Ana Maria Martinez | DeKalb State Court Judge

We had the good fortune of connecting with the Hon. Ana Maria Martinez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Judge Martinez, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am originally from Colombia, South America, but I have lived in Georgia since I was twelve. My experience of coming to this country, having to learn the language and culture, and finding my place in this new home shaped me immensely. It made me very intentional about being empathetic and kind. It sharpened my abilities to adapt and grow, and it helps me remember every day that people don’t always broadcast their struggles. I love my Colombian roots, and they definitely bring a lot of color and inspiration to my life. At the same time, Atlanta is home. I love living and working in DeKalb County. I am so grateful for all the opportunities the United States has brought me, and I try to bring a grateful heart to all I do.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am the first and only Latina trial court judge in the state of Georgia. I was appointed in January 2022, and now I am running for election on May 21st. As a state court judge, I have jurisdiction over misdemeanors (crimes punishable for up to $1000 fine and 12 months in jail), and on the civil side, cases where you can sue the other party for money (I can’t make anyone do anything other than pay money, but there is no limit as to the amounts for which you can sue.) In addition to my hearings, I volunteer to preside over an accountability court. Along with another judge, I run a DUI Court to help individuals with alcohol addiction get treatment and achieve recovery instead of just sending them to jail. This program is incredibly important to me because it is about making our community safer and changing lives. We have a very high success rate and have greatly reduced recidivism, which means our participants are now contributing positively to our community and no longer endangering others by drinking and driving.

My path to the bench is very unique. I went to law school, in large part, inspired by my paternal grandfather. He was a lawyer in Colombia who lived everyday his principles of the love of the law and the importance of access to justice. However, I never had any aspirations to the bench. After graduating law school, I worked as a civil defense attorney at a mid-size firm in Atlanta, and later as staff attorney to former Judge Dax Lopez. At the time, he was the only Latino judge in Georgia, and learning from him was one of the most incredible and formative experiences. My work as a staff attorney awakened in me an interest in public service. When Judge Lopez was leaving the bench, he encouraged me to put my name in the hat for the position, as there had never been a Latina judge in a trial court before, and there wasn’t much precedent for staff attorneys ascending directly to the bench in the metro area. I saw this as a great opportunity to not only do something I love, but also to encourage young people, and especially girls, to dream big and break barriers. I wanted them to see someone in a position of leadership who looked and sounded like them, so that they, too, could envision themselves following their dreams.

Getting to my position has meant overcoming preconceived notions about my ethnicity and culture, breaking barriers personally and professionally, and putting in countless hours to learn and connect with my community. The road has never been easy, but the hard work has always been worth it. I love what I do, and I hope I get to continue serving the citizens of DeKalb and the metro-area for years to come.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a pretty big fan of all of the amazing things DeKalb County has to offer. From amazing culinary experiences along the Buford Highway corridor and in cities like Dunwoody and Decatur, to the beautiful green spaces along the county, to the incredibly interesting exhibits at the Carlos Museum, Fernbank, and right across the Fulton line in the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, to the out of this world experience that is the Your DeKalb Farmer Market, there is not enough time to check everything out. Nevertheless, I would love to take a day each to show visitors the different areas and their treasures. In addition, a visit to Atlanta would not be complete without stops at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Georgia Aquarium, and the High Museum of Art.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I couldn’t be where I am today without a whole army of people. From my mom, who sacrificed and endured so much to give me the opportunities that brought me here, to former judges Tony DelCampo and Dax Lopez, who have guided and encouraged me every day in my career, to my little girls who inspire me to keep doing what I do so that, one day, they will have infinitely more opportunities and less challenges that women – and Latina women- have today, to my husband for always being my rock.

But if I have to pick one, I would love to shout out the Georgia Latino Law Foundation (GLLF). I co-founded the GLLF in 2015 after seeing the immense need to create a community for Latino/a pre-law and law students, and young lawyers. I thought I was doing something great for them, but in reality, they are the ones who inspire me! I love connecting them to people and opportunities and seeing them take those little contacts and turn them into amazing successes and possibilities.

Website: www.judgeanamariamartinez.com

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