ANA D. HERNANDEZ

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Maryland State Judiciary

The Honorable Ana D. Hernandez serves as associate judge of the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City, a position she has held since her appointment in 2022. Before joining the judiciary, Hernandez built her legal career as an assistant public defender with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, progressing from handling misdemeanor cases in Baltimore City to jury trials and ultimately serious felony cases.

Hernandez’s career highlights include her pioneering work ensuring Spanish-speaking defendants had access to attorneys in their native language during serious felony proceedings. Her judicial appointment made her only the second Hispanic judge in Baltimore City. Prior to law school, she distinguished herself as a special education teacher in Miami, selected for the competitive Miami Teaching Fellows program. As Special Education Department Chair, she led more than 10 teachers and support staff while developing innovative approaches to support students with behavioral disabilities.

Her commitment to mentoring exemplifies her approach to leadership and service. During a 2020 Maryland Hispanic Bar Association online meeting, Hernandez met a law student from her Florida hometown who admitted having no mentor. “You have one now,” Hernandez told them, beginning a relationship that has spanned five years through law school, clerkships, bar exam challenges and current government service. What began as mentorship has evolved into friendship, demonstrating her belief that successful professionals have a duty to open doors for those following behind them.

Hernandez’s leadership extends beyond individual mentoring to institutional change. She co-founded the Maryland Hispanic Judges Association to support Latino judges statewide and foster mentoring relationships. Her work with the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association connects aspiring and practicing attorneys with professional development opportunities that strengthen their ability to serve Maryland communities and businesses.

Her dedication has earned recognition including the 2024 IMPACTO Award from the University of Maryland School of Law’s Latinx Law Students Association and the 2022 Outstanding Achievement Award from the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association, which honored her public defender work, organizational commitment and historic judicial appointment.

Honoree profiles were written using an artificial intelligence program and supported by honoree nominations, applications and letters of recommendation. Each profile was reviewed, fact-checked and edited for accuracy by The Daily Record’s editorial staff.

This is an honoree profile from The Daily Record's Hispanic Leadership Awards for 2025. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree.