Cleveland judge Jazmin Torres-Lugo breaks barriers, inspires next generation of Latinas 

When a man arrived at Cleveland Municipal Court, distressed, wearing worn-out shoes and clothes, Judge Jazmin Torres-Lugo could have treated his appearance as just another detail in a typical court proceeding. Instead, she asked questions. 

After the man excused his appearance by the distance he had walked from Cleveland’s East Side to the court and said he had little money to spare, he confessed his fear of going to jail for a missed welfare appointment. Torres-Lugo arranged for the probation department to help him obtain bus passes and a pair of shoes. 

The man expressed surprise, yet gratitude for the help the court provided.  

For Torres-Lugo, this encounter emphasized a core principle that has guided her life and legal career: Understanding a person’s circumstances can be just as important as understanding the charges or issues that brought them to court in the first place. 

“There are cases that you can show some grace and sympathy to them and give them a little bit of hope,” Torres-Lugo said. 

As Torres-Lugo transitioned her life and career to Ohio, she credits her approach to the bench to the years she spent rebuilding her professional identity in a language she was still learning. 

After establishing herself as an attorney in Puerto Rico at 26, she became the legal director of the island’s recreational parks system, working directly with government officials and the governor. 

In 1990, Torres-Lugo decided to move to the United States with her family to pursue new opportunities and rebuild their lives. 

Although she had legal experience, her qualifications did not immediately open doors. She continued to struggle with learning and speaking English, and with the reactions she received when she attempted. 

“I felt alone and humiliated in many aspects,” Torres-Lugo said. 

People often laughed at her accent while treating her as if she wasn’t in the room. This experience was particularly difficult for Torres-Lugo, as she had already built a successful career. Now, she said, the experience gave her an opportunity to understand the challenges immigrants face. 

She continued to learn English with a dictionary she had brought from Puerto Rico. While working to earn the qualifications needed to practice law in Ohio, she took a babysitting job. 

As a humbling transition from lawyer to babysitter, it also served as another learning experience in understanding financial insecurity. 

After her husband lost his job, her family arrived in Ohio, including their two children. With limited income, they had to rebuild their lives quickly. Torres-Lugo admits that these circumstances taught her how unexpected expenses can threaten families. 

These lessons remained with her as she returned to the legal profession. 

“I’ll never forget it,” she said. 

Thirteen years after arriving in Ohio, she was appointed to fill a vacancy on Cleveland Municipal Court in 2003. But her path to sucess was not immediate, as she lost the general election that year. However, she continued to maintain her connections to the community. 

Torres-Lugo later worked with the Spanish American Committee, where she witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by low-income residents. This inspired her to take on pro bono cases for single mothers and other older adults, sometimes traveling to help them. 

These experiences worked together to shape her understanding of the relationship between the legal system and poverty. A simple fine may be manageable to one person; meanwhile, it holds the power to jeopardize someone’s ability to pay rent, she said. 

Rather than making assumptions based on someone’s appearance or circumstances, she believes that understanding the details behind a person’s actions could determine what level of compassion is appropriate. 

“You don’t know what they are going through,” she said. 

This instinct to seek fairness informs how she approaches cases as a judge, as that sense of fairness remained beside her long before she first entered a courtroom. 

Growing up, Torres-Lugo built a reputation within her classrooms helping mediate arguments between classmates in an effort to understand both sides and find middle ground. She credits her confidence to express herself in class to her parents, who helped her to develop the assurance to speak up when something wasn’t fair. 

“I wasn’t born for unfairness,” she said. 

A seat at the bench 

Torres-Lugo is recognized as the first elected Hispanic woman to hold a judicial seat in Northeast Ohio. While she recognized that earning this distinction was an honor, she acknowledged the years of persistence. 

She officially began her judicial tenure on January 2, 2018. 

During the first 15 years she worked to become a judge, she admits that skepticism forced people to question whether she deserved the position. 

Many encounters with people in Cleveland led to her being questioned on whether she was taking opportunities from others, while also associating her with other cultures and backgrounds. 

Torres-Lugo identifies herself as a proud Puerto Rican woman, but these encounters ultimately shaped the type of judge she wanted to be, one that didn’t make judgments about others without understanding their backgrounds. 

Rather than letting narrow-minded attitudes affect her goals and future, she kept pursuing them. 

“Don’t allow others to define you,” she said. “Don’t give up.” 

Her eventual personal milestone – becoming the first Hispanic judge elected in Northeast Ohio – continues to inspire many other Latinas aspiring for a career in the legal system. 

During one visit to a law school class at Ohio State University, Torres-Lugo spoke with students who also practiced law in their home countries but were pursuing legal education in the United States. 

One student told her that hearing her story reinforced her confidence in becoming an attorney, Torres-Lugo recalled. 

This moment emphasized the importance of representation for Torres-Lugo, as she recognizes that the many barriers this student will face will only strengthen their understanding of other people. 

She hopes people who feel rejected or underestimated don’t interpret the circumstances as determining what they can accomplish. Her message is that the path will not be easy, but that rejection should not be mistaken for a lack of ability. 

Beyond the courtroom  

Outside of her work, Torres-Lugo cherishes the moments spent with her children and grandchildren, attending concerts and exploring Cleveland’s parks. 

In her office, she described the city’s lakefront view that reminds her of Puerto Rico. While practicing law, she visited Lake Erie to regain perspective. 

The water and its waves hold particular significance for her, as it remains a place of solitude. 

She also appreciates community connections, such as supporting small businesses. One small business in particular, Rincon Criollo Take 2, serves as a Latine hub, providing Puerto Rican cuisine to Cleveland residents for over two decades. 

Her support reflects her commitment to Cleveland residents, helping sustain the places that preserve cultural identity and the city’s local economy. 

Torres-Lugo also encourages voters to recognize the influence elected officials have on Clevelanders’ daily lives, from their financial circumstances to access to opportunities. 

“Your vote is your power,” she said. 

She explained that voting is another way for people to reclaim their power and exercise control, reinforcing the same concern for fairness she has always had. 

Torres-Lugo’s career has defined the strength it takes to persevere and prove herself in difficult environments, shaping how she serves the public and the example she sets for the next generation. 

Her advice to those in similar positions is straightforward: Work hard, recognize people’s limitations without letting those limitations become their own. 

“Just because the journey is difficult doesn’t mean success is out of reach,” Torres-Lugo said.