Today, we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Avila Ramirez.
Hi Sandra, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I remember as a child moving around a lot, working in the fields with my parents in the summers, and wanting to be a performer on Kids Incorporated – sing, dance, act.
I was smart enough, but I never quite felt I was “normal” until after high school. I was a late bloomer and socially awkward with boys, but no one ever assumed that because of the way I looked – a product of “adultification” before I knew the term.
My childhood experiences ingrained in me that I had to be strong, self-sufficient, and distrusting of anyone who was being too nice to me. I was fiercely independent, so I wouldn’t let a date pay for me, held 3 jobs, and was always busy – escaping my past. My parents instilled in me a very strong work ethic and appreciation for helping others, so paying it forward became part of everything I did.
I became a volunteer firefighter and EMS first responder in my hometown of Weslaco, Texas, at 20 years old because there was a need in my community, and I answered that call to action. I joked that I was on the 10-year plan in college but finally graduated from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, in 1996. Law school followed, and after graduating from Texas Tech in Lubbock, I escaped to Chicago, IL, because I wanted to be a big city girl – maybe get lost in the crowd and get to be me without judgment.
I went to law school to be a prosecutor – be the good guy who wanted to hold people accountable for hurting others and ensure we were fair and just with everyone, not just the rich and powerful or those who knew the right people. I was very rough around the edges when I became a lawyer, but little by little, I had to learn how to navigate the professional world that was so foreign to me. It was difficult but necessary, and through the years, I have learned how to be true to myself without compromising my principles for the name of the job, the position, and the office. I don’t always get it right, but I will never stop trying to be a better person.
After being a prosecutor for so long, I lost my job unexpectedly in 2021 and became disillusioned with the profession. Normally an optimist, I was not in a good place. I had lost my mom the year before, so it was just easier to give in to the negativity and the depression I self-diagnosed – something that brings shame to our profession. I wouldn’t say I was lost, but I had to pivot and find my new normal.
I opened up my own practice in criminal and juvenile defense. As a lifelong public servant, I stuck to court appointments and eventually realized I wanted to focus on helping the Spanish-speaking community because there was so much need. Growing up, I was the family interpreter when we traveled with extended family for seasonal work.
My mom didn’t speak English, so growing up, I saw how she was dismissed, ignored, and mistreated. I always felt the need to be the voice of the vulnerable, the underrepresented, the little guy, and this allowed me the opportunity to give them quality representation even if they didn’t have money. I was an experienced trial attorney and realized being the good guy wasn’t limited to the prosecution – and I fought for them just as much as I fought for the State and the victim as a prosecutor.
This November, I will have completed 25 years of practicing law. I found myself coming back to juvenile law over the years, so I decided to run for the juvenile court bench in Travis County. Come January 1, 2025, I will be the first Latina to be on that bench, where 50% of the children that go through the system are Latinos. I’m sure childhood trauma and lived experiences played a large part in my passion for this area of law, and folks always talk about helping children and wanting to protect them – except when talking about children going through the juvenile system.
They stop being seen as children, and that’s unfortunate. The juvenile justice system was designed to consider the best interests of the child while prioritizing public safety – not always an easy task. But you have to be courageous enough to make those hard choices without having pressure from either side – you have to try to do the right thing each and every time – with each child. I intend to do just that, especially when it gets hard.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As a woman in the legal profession, you’re perceived as being too emotional. If you show any emotion – no matter how normal the response – you’re underestimated and therefore passed up for promotions, judged based strictly on looks, to name a few obstacles.
As a Latina, I’ve had to fight the “hot Latina” stereotype because I was very voluptuous and liked wearing heels and form-fitting suits/dresses. I’ve also had to prove that I’m just as smart and capable as any other man or woman, that my dark skin doesn’t make me less American, that I’ve earned my spot/position, etc.
One recent realization that I came to as I campaigned was me not understanding the value of networking or self-promotion, and I see that as an obstacle because sometimes that’s how we get our foot in the door, and then the rest is up to us. Who is in those rooms and who has a seat at the table matters.
In fact, as a candidate, I was reminded that I was anti-establishment, and there were not-so-subtle efforts to try to get someone to run against me. I was invited to lunch only to be encouraged to run my campaign in a way that would allow the establishment to maintain the status quo. At times, I felt alienated and isolated, and there were efforts to have other women of color run against me, and that was no coincidence. I was very disillusioned by this, as I was relegated to the “angry” Latina because I took offense to these tactics and was vocal about it.
Having a strong personality, not everyone’s going to like you. But add being a woman AND a Latina to that? Yes, I had the audacity to think that my voice mattered, so I’ve tried using it through the years, which hasn’t always been well-received – especially in the legal profession.
But if I’m being honest, I have to take some responsibility as well because I haven’t always made it easy. I have always understood where my fight comes from, but I’ve had to learn how to temper that with each situation, especially as I entered this profession.
I don’t like to mince words, but words matter. You need to be able to have conversations in ways that are respectful and productive. Why? If I’m delivering a message but have upset that recipient so much that they shut down and don’t listen or dismiss me because of how I’ve made them feel, then I’m not a very effective communicator.
As you know, we’re big fans of the Law Office of Sandra Avila Ramirez, PLLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar with the brand, what can you tell them about it?
My criminal law practice is all about indigent criminal defense with a few pro-Bono clients (where I represent them free of charge). I focus on an exclusively Spanish-speaking caseload of defendants facing felony charges who don’t have the resources to hire their own attorneys. I was a felony prosecutor for 16 years and gained extensive jury trial experience, which now helps me defend against felony charges.
I’m a firm believer in equal justice for all, which is why I like to provide quality representation to those who might not otherwise be able to afford it. But it’s still funny to me that some folks believe “free” attorneys aren’t good attorneys. I remind those clients that someone’s footing the bill, it just isn’t them.
I’ve learned to trust my instinct and human nature when reviewing cases to determine a plan of action. I am definitely known for being a straight shooter. I tell my clients the good, the bad, and the ugly because they need to know the law and understand their case to make the best-informed decision they can. I like having that reputation, but I have to be careful because being direct or “honest” with my clients doesn’t mean being a jerk.
But I will be closing my practice in a few months so I can finish my pending cases and transition to the bench come January 2025.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
They can visit my website to read my story and see whether I am the type of elected official they’d publicly support. I want to do the right thing for the right reasons, not succumb to pressures, political or otherwise.
People say that’s who they want, but then we go against the grain, and we’re on our own. I want people’s support for the right reasons because they want me to do the right thing, not just see things their way. I know we won’t always agree, but my hope is understanding the why will help folks maintain their objectivity.
Contact Info:
- Website: sandra4judge.com
- Instagram: @sandraforjudge
- Facebook: Sandra for Judge
- Linkedin: Sandra Avila Ramirez
Image Credits
Arlen J Photography
