Former Lake County Circuit Court Judge Lorenzo Arredondo may be retired from the bench, but he’s definitely not retired from the world around him.
The current candidate for Indiana Attorney General recently discussed his 34-year career and his busy life during a presentation, My Life as a Judge, with students and others at Purdue University Calumet.
PUC associate professor of political science James Colucci coordinated the visit.
“The experience Judge Arredondo gained throughout his career will enlighten those interested about what the life of a judge is like on a day-by-day basis,” Colucci said, of his idea to bring the accomplished judge to the campus. “And we’re giving an opportunity for a question-and-answer session.”
The audience of more than 50 people consisted of not only Purdue students and staff, but members of the community as well.
“I’ve read a lot about Judge Arredondo but never met him in person. I plan to talk to him after the presentation,” said Kerri Lawrence-Mendoza of Hammond. “My son is going here at Purdue but hasn’t decided on a major. The judge may have some information I can relate back to him.”
Two classes were represented during the program staged in PUC’s Room With a View. Members of Colucci’s Law and Society class and the Business Spanish class were in the audience.
PUC associate professor Marisa Garcia-Verduzo is the instructor for the latter.
“I wanted my students to hear about politics in the state of Indiana,” she said while waiting for the presentation to begin. “And, also, how a Hispanic judge from northwest Indiana can run for attorney general.”
As the judge worked his way up the educational and career ladders, beginning as a teacher in both Gary and East Chicago, he found that civic education and civic engagement was key on all sides of the equation.
“Everyone has to work for making democracy better,” he said. “You have to be involved – that has to start with the people.”
And the younger that education begins the better – as evidenced by one of Arredondo’s current endeavors.
That would be the Judge Lorenzo Arredondo Civic Education Program.
This curriculum takes place in the Judge Lorenzo Arredondo Justice Center on Main Street in East Chicago and is geared toward children in grades 1 to 12. The specifics of their lessons focus on their individual grade levels.
Mock elections, mock trials and civic education are among the agenda items.
When he retired from the bench at the end of 2010, Arredondo was the longest-serving Hispanic state trial judge in the nation. He also is widely-recognized for his efforts removing language barriers for non-English speaking individuals to enable a clearer understanding of judicial matters in the courts.
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One of 10 siblings, Arredondo lost his father at the age of 13. The family formed a unique bond, which continues today.
The judge’s siblings also are very well-known throughout northwest Indiana for their many contributions in law enforcement and other areas.
In fact, the second youngest sibling, Ramon and his wife Trisha, recently became authors of a book, “Maria’s Journey.”
The biography covers the life of the Arredondo siblings’ mother, Maria Perez-Arredondo, and her immigration to the United States.
To his list of credits, Judge Arredondo has received two Indiana State Bar Association presidential citations — the Rabb Emison Award for significant contribution in advancing opportunities of minority lawyers in legal employment and the legal profession; and the first Latino Affairs Committee Trailblazer/Abriendo Caminos Award.
PUC senior Charva Edward, a Business Spanish student, thought the talk was beneficial in several ways.
“Having the judge here helps to raise awareness about out local politics,” she said. ” And it’s interesting to learn about his string of services and successes. This can impact our motivation.”
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance writer for the Post-Tribune.