This May, we’re recognizing diverse voices in the judiciary in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The following features Circuit Court of Cook County Judge Anjana Hansen and her thoughts on her career, diversity, and more.
Hometown: Evanston, IL
College/Law School: The John Marshall Law School (NKA UIC School of Law)
District or Circuit: Cook County
When did you know you wanted to pursue law, and eventually, become a judge?
I knew I wanted to become a lawyer in high school. I was always drawn to seeking justice and equity in every situation. I knew I wanted to be a judge after many years with the State’s Attorney’s Office.
When you reflect on your career, what accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am most proud of starting the Asian American Judges Association. One of the reasons I ran for judge is because, at the time, there were not that many Asian Americans on the bench in Cook County. It is important that when people come into the court system that they see people that look like them. Having a diverse judiciary is representative of the diversity of people in Cook County. Having a Judges Association signifies that we now have a large group of AA judges on the bench and shows the AA legal community that AA can get elected.
What is a challenge you’ve had to overcome in your career?
I have and still do at times have to overcome the challenge of how people react to me in court as a female minority. From time to time, I encounter lawyers as well as litigants who say or act in a way that is disrespectful and know that if I was a man or part of the majority, they would not have acted or made remarks in a disrespectful way. It is easy to become angry and I have had to teach myself to not get angry but handle it in the respectful way I expect people to be in court.
Who is an AAPI figure who has influenced you?
My good friend, Judge Neera Walsh. I met Neera when I was an ASA with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. I watched her become a supervisor in the State’s Attorney’s Office and then a judge. She has shown me what can be possible and continues to encourage me each and every day.
How has your heritage shaped who you are today?
I have seen how hard-working my parents were to give me and my siblings the lives that we have. My parents are immigrants from India and the Philippines. They have set an example for me which I followed. It took a lot of hard work to get to where I am. I am the first lawyer in our family. Not just my immediate family but my extended family as well. My parents’ example showed me that you can make your own path and make your dreams reality with hard work and a loving and supportive family.
Why do you think it’s important to discuss and recognize diversity, both on the bench and in everyday life?
Not everyone comes from the same place. Even if you literally do come from the same place, your life experience is likely different. Knowing this gives me the understanding to be fair in my decisions on the bench and helps me not judge a book by its cover in everyday life. It’s important to discuss and recognize diversity in order to be understanding of others. Without this, a person will hold people to a standard that they will likely fail to achieve. If you can see people in the different light they are in, then people have a chance to succeed.
What is one of your favorite traditions or customs of your culture/family?
My mom makes lumpia, her own recipe. Every special occasion has her lumpia on the table. Growing up, she made it for every special event at school. She became famous for it. Whenever I see old classmates or their families from elementary school, they always ask about my mom and remember her delicious lumpia.