Magistrate Judge Catherine Taylor with students from LAHS Teacher Lori Thompson’s Sports Lit class. Courtesy/LAPS
By ARIEL MARTINEZ
Los Alamos High School
Sports Lit Student
During a recent school field trip to the courthouse, I had the opportunity to interview Magistrate Judge Catherine Taylor. Speaking with her gave me a stronger understanding of what she truly does with her work and how it’s important.
Taylor also shared some helpful advice I can take with me, especially if I choose to go into law one day. I am going to share some questions I got to ask her and what she told me.
During the interview, one of the first things I wanted to know was what made her decide to get into law. I asked her how she knew she wanted to become a judge and if it was always her dream. Surprisingly, she told me that, just like me, she didn’t picture herself working in law when she was younger. It was not until her mid-20s that she discovered herself interested in law.
There wasn’t much that inspired her to get there, but during her process she did have peers and people to look up to. She actually switched majors in college. Hearing that made me realize that it’s okay not to have everything figured out right now “and there’s always something to learn”.
“You may have certain knowledge about things, but there can be more you don’t know,” Taylor said.
Another thing I was curious about was if she likes it in Los Alamos, and she indicated that she does. Taylor said she actually used to live in California and did law there. She added that she does enjoy her experiences in Los Alamos because it is easy access to everything and a good environment for her kids to grow up. Speaking of her kids, I was also curious if she wanted them to follow her path such as going into law. Taylor said she doesn’t expect them to go into law as everyone has their own path.
Some advice she gave is, “The broader the background, the more perspective you bring to the bench.”
She added that if you have more to bring with you, it gives you a better chance of getting where you want to be. In describing her job, Judge Taylor explained that her main responsibility is to make sure everyone follows the rules. She even compared her work to being a referee. She has to watch carefully and make fair decisions so the courtroom stays under control.
Hearing this helped me see the courtroom in a whole new way. It’s not just about punishment. It’s about keeping order and making sure everyone is treated fairly. During her work, her most favorite thing to see and experience is success stories. She sees people on the worst days of their lives but also sees the joy from things that go well, and that makes her happy.
Overall, I really enjoyed this interviewing experience; it gave me lots of new knowledge and things I can take with me in the future.