Judge Stephanie Mingo's career path is marked by dedication to community and a passion for justice. 在广州出生和长大, 俄亥俄州, she pursued a Bachelor of 艺术s in Political Science from The 俄亥俄州 State University in 1996, followed by a Juris Doctor from 威尼斯人平台法学院 in 1999. Her journey to the bench of the Franklin County Municipal Court Environmental Division in 2019 was shaped by her diverse experiences.
“There isn’t a day that I don’t come to the office and think of what a blessing it is to be able to serve in this capacity,明戈说. “Public service was really what I wanted to do, and I was open to doing that in any capacity that I could. Sometimes you get there by taking risks, by having an open mind and an open heart. Just by the nature of who we are, we think we have it all worked out of what we want to be, 我们要去哪里, 以及我们想要做的. I am so thankful that I kept an open mind when offered the position.”
Mingo's career began with her brother in private practice, focusing on Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court. She served as a guardian ad litem, advocating for children from underserved communities. After having her two girls, she found a new role in the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office.
Her appointment to the bench came as a surprise. 2018年末, she received an unexpected call from the Governor's office, appointing her as the Environmental Division judge.
“As someone who would never, ever dream of really seeking public office, it was stunning. 我是一个内向的人, so when I got this call for the position of environmental judge, 我认为, 你在开玩笑吧. I did the screening and thought, I’m really proud of myself. I put myself out there and was prepared,明戈说. “I didn’t think anything of it until Christmas Eve when I got a call. It was the Governor’s office asking when I would like to take the bench. I lost track of time, space, everything! 我简直不敢相信. I’d gone to bed that night a prosecutor, and I woke up the next morning with someone calling me judge.”
Reflecting on her years on the bench, Mingo emphasizes the value of listening and taking the time to make informed decisions.
“在长凳的这一边, I would say probably the most important responsibility as a judge is to be a good listener. 作为一名律师, you are formulating thoughts as you’re walking through your argument, 但作为法官, you just need to sit and listen and take it all in. Don’t form any opinions until you’ve had all of the testimony and evidence in front of you, 这很难做到,明戈说. “Everyone expects you to lead and to lead f法律lessly. That’s not realistic, whether you’re a seasoned judge or new. Sometimes you just need to take a step back, consider what is being argued in front of you, and take the time to arrive at the appropriate conclusion.”
Her approach to justice is rooted in compassion and a deep understanding of the human experiences behind each case.
“通过我们的工作, we see so many families that are in housing crisis, 在金融危机中, 还有心理健康危机. It’s so important to me that this division, 在我的领导下, does all it can to reach out to those individuals, to educate them on all resources available to them in Franklin County,明戈说. “I have started an initiative called Beyond the Bench. The goal of that initiative was just to be active listeners throughout Franklin County. We wanted people to understand that your judges care. We really want to know about those issues impacting your family. When we come back to the bench, we have those factors in mind when we’re making decisions.
“It's so easy for judges, I think, to exist in somewhat of an ivory tower. You sort of get used to holding that gavel and having that authority and power. For me, it’s always been key that I stay closely connected to the community that I serve. That I never lose sight of those issues that are impacting defendants that are coming before me. I can consider those factors when making decisions,明戈说.
She encourages 法律 students and young professionals to embrace opportunities and take risks. 她自己的道路, from a shy 法律 student to a respected judge, serves as an inspiration to those who may not see themselves in traditional leadership roles but have the potential to make a significant impact.
For more information about 威尼斯人平台’s 法学院, visit http://www.Law.Capital.edu/.