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PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Myriam Irizarry was appointed as the first Hispanic judge in Pinellas County in 2015 and served in her position until 2020.
She then retired but still serves as a senior judge. That means she serves part-time when the courts need help.
“The judicial system should represent the makeup of their community. And so, although I was the first, I hope not to be the last,” Irizarry said.
Now she is using her free time for some of her other passions like writing poetry.
Irizarry is currently writing a book with her daughter, “The Fragrance of Jesus.”
“Jesus, my Lord, your fragrance revives my soul and purifies my heart,” she said while reading from her notes. “Your essence fills me with your presence from which I shall never part.”
It means a lot to Irizarry that she was able to reach her goals and credits her mother for believing in her.
She wrote her first book, “The Power of Perseverance,” about growing up in a shack in Puerto Rico, hardships in New York City, and eventually becoming a lawyer, then a judge.
Irizarry said her mother raised her and her siblings with a dream for each of them to achieve.
“Her tenacity, her grit, her faith in each and every one of us, we were able to overcome,” she said. “So this is a tribute to her as well.”
Though Irizarry is retired, she sees Hispanic Heritage Month as a way to celebrate achievements and add to what makes our country great.
“We get to bring out our culture in such a way that we can showcase how we integrate into the American culture and the richness in our diversity, what it brings to this country,” she said.
Irizarry hopes that her story can inspire others to follow their dreams and achieve what they desire.
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Matt Lackritz
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