The Verdict: Achieve Success With Advice from Judge Maria Lopez

"I experienced many of the difficulties immigrants still face today when my family escaped from Havana when I was only eight and fled to the United States," says Lopez, the first Latina District Court Judge ever appointed to the bench in Massachusetts. "It hasn't been an easy road, but determination, hard work and a spicy sense of humor has paid off in the end."

Judge Lopez' childhood battles with poverty have only made her more resilient and understanding, as her upbeat attitude and concern for all of the people who enter her TV courtroom is one of the many things that endear her to viewers.

With a new season of her hit show in full swing, Lopez offers these words of wisdom for people who might need a little reassurance from one who has made it to the top.

* Set your sights high. The country, with its focus on progress and success, can also be intimidating to those who were born as citizens. It can be doubly so for those just arriving to the U.S. Lopez would know, as she and her family fled the violent revolution in Havana when she was just a child, only to find hardship in the United States where they didn't speak the language. The family refused to be intimidated, and Lopez managed to learn English in just three months.

"I will always remember the fear and anxiety I felt when I found myself in a third grade classroom in Miami and the teacher and students turned pages in books and wrote on the blackboard while I sat there not knowing what was going on," Lopez says. "I felt so alone."

After a stellar academic career that included degrees from Smith College and the Boston University Law School, Lopez continued to set her sights high, eventually becoming the first Latina in Massachusetts history to be appointed a District Court Judge at the age of 35. That appointment was soon followed by another remarkable achievement, as Lopez became the first Latina appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court.

* Keep an open mind. Part of what makes Judge Lopez so popular with both her viewers and the people who enter her courtroom is her willingness to keep an open mind regardless of the situation. Lopez knows how hard it can be to assimilate into a new culture while still trying to hold onto traditions from your native country. While Lopez still cherishes many of the traditions of her native Cuba, she also has embraced many traditions popular in the U.S. as well.

That open mind has shown itself on the bench, where Lopez has gained a reputation of empathy for the oppressed, a reputation she values and still clings to on her television show. Known for unconventional, creative sentencing, Lopez feels that being flexible in all aspects of life, whether you're handing out sentences on the bench or embracing a new culture, is essential.

"I learned that having an open mind allows you to learn new things," Lopez says. "The other side of open minded is prejudice -- making assumptions about people and things based on stereotypes. Those assumptions are, more often than not, wrong. By keeping an open mind, I've been able to judge people on their own merit. That is what being fair and just is about."

* Enjoy yourself. Despite a difficult move to a new country at a young age and fighting the battles that come with being a successful Latina in the male-dominated world of U.S. courtrooms, Judge Lopez has enjoyed herself throughout her journey from Cuban immigrant, to Superior Court Judge, to popular television personality.

While some issues she has dealt with in her career and on her show have been very serious, Lopez has managed to maintain a positive attitude throughout, an approach she suggests all Latinos consider as they make the difficult transition to a new culture and a new country.

" My favorite children's story is The Little Engine That Could. If something is important to you, go for it until you succeed," Lopez says. "If you have the will, you will find the way."

"Judge Maria Lopez" is a nationally syndicated show. You can find out where it airs in your area by visiting the show's Web site at www.JudgeMariaLopez.com.