Milian, who is originally from but somehow, Judge Milian makes it pushed me and motivated me to get an
Queens, New York moved to Miami work by sorting her priorities. In the education were my parents. My parents
when she was eight years old. She was midst of her busy schedule, Judge Mil- both came separately and met in Ameri-
raised in a very conservative Cuban ian spent some time with Hispanic glyph817et- ca but they came pre-Castro because of
home with good family values. A good work Magazine sharing her thoughts on economic issues; my mother was a
education was something that was family, education and career: young divorced woman and my father
expected and “there was never any was dirt poor. My father had a fourth
questions that college was 13
th
grade. It HNM: What role does culture play in grade education and in fifth grade his
was never an option to not be educated.” your life? six brothers and sisters raised him. He
Milian received her undergraduate came to America, worked really hard,
degree in Psychology at the University Judge Marilyn Milian: “I think my saved some money, and opened a couple
of Miami where she graduated with a culture defines me, I grew up in a very of businesses. My father is now 86, he is
4.0 grade-point average then attended traditional Hispanic family; I was born a successful developer, he was still
Georgetown Law School where she in America, but my parents were not, working until very recently. My father
became a lawyer at the age of 23. Edu- they were born in Cuba. Being Hispan- made it very clear to every single one of
cation was a big part of the Judge’s ic is such a defining role of who I am, us that he wanted us to do what he never
upbringing. Her father made sure each that I think it comes through with every got a chance to do.”
of his children understood they must get aspect of my life: my professional life,
an education, an opportunity he never my family life and every aspect.” HNM: What does family mean to
had. you?
From 1984 to 1994, Milian worked HNM: Was education a big part of
as an Assistant State Attorney, a position your upbringing? Judge Marilyn Milian: “It’s every-
that was personally appointed by Janet thing. When you struggle and you live
Reno for the Dade County State Attor- Judge Marilyn Milian: “I think what in this era and you are juggling being a
ney’s Office. She spent about five years
in the Miami County Court in the
Domestic Violence Court, Criminal and
Civil divisions before being appointed
to the Miami Circuit Court’s Criminal
Division in 1999 by Florida Governor,
Jeb Bush. When Milian was approached
about the opportunity to sit as the Judge
of “The People’s Court” she was busy
working on a big trial and didn’t want
anything to do with the show, but even-
tually gave in took a big risk in her
career, “You know when I did it, no one
had ever done this in Miami and if I had
failed, I would have been the person
who had given her position by the gov-
ernor’s order to go on television. And if
I got canceled, I’d be jobless!”
Judge Milian’s feistiness in the
courtroom as we see on television is
nothing but passion for justice as well as
a part of being a fiery Latina. Behind the
scenes of the show, Milian is a mother
of three daughters Cristina, Alexandra
and Sofia as well as a loving wife to
Judge John Schlesinger, a Circuit Court
Judge. Family life is hectic when you
live in Miami and work in New York,
WWW.HNMAGAZINE.COM Celebrating over 15 Years of Embracing Diversity 63
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