Trailblazing and Community Building

Maria Cubillos Reed ’97 holds the honor of being Monroe County’s first Hispanic family court judge. She recognizes that representation matters, and she works to use her influence to build strong relationships with her community and the court system and hopes to inspire and mentor University of Rochester students to become leaders in their own communities through her involvement in the Latin Alumni Network.

She’s proud to hold the honor of first Hispanic family court judge. “I gladly carry that torch,” she says. “Because I think having different perspectives is important for [serving on the] bench.”

Cubillos Reed was just eight years old when her family arrived in the United States from Colombia, and her parents encouraged her to stay connected with that heritage. “There is a huge need for Hispanic lawyers and people who speak different languages. Bringing everyone into the fold isn’t just something I love doing,” she explains. It’s crucial for growth in her field.

Recently, Cubillos Reed has added a new role to her repertoire, serving as district-wide coordinating judge of justice initiatives. Her focus in this role is on access and equal justice across the 7th Judicial District, building upon her long-standing commitment to community involvement and collaboration.

It’s really important for judges to be active in the community, for people to see that the court system is an integral part of that, and to foster those relations within the community because we are there to serve them.

Community is also why she chooses to be a part of the Latin Alumni Network. Looking back, she wishes she had been more active in student cultural groups as an undergraduate, but she has made up for it as an alumna by attending and participating in local affinity network events.

Her commitment to investing in her community came, in part, from her mentor, Judge Fatimat Reid. She remembered her mentor’s strong commitment to connecting with the community and to continuing the work of reaching communities that lack access to legal resources. Her appreciation for that relationship is why she wants to offer guidance to current URochester students.

Her advice to them is simple: “It’s okay to take risks. It’s okay to be uncomfortable. When you’re in college, everybody is expecting that of you; they’re expecting you to be a little bit awkward and uncomfortable, so that’s the perfect time to put yourself out there and find people you connect with who are able to help you navigate the professional setting.”

—Jeanette Perez Colby, September 2026