Ana D. Hernandez

Maryland Judiciary-District Court for Baltimore City

The Honorable Ana D. Hernandez serves as an associate judge on the District Court of Maryland, Baltimore City, where she has spent nearly four years serving the city’s residents.

The path to becoming an attorney was neither smooth nor straightforward for Hernandez. An immigrant who lost both parents when she was young, she entered law school after working as a public school teacher and did not excel in the traditional scholarly sense. She went on to serve as a public defender before Gov. Larry Hogan appointed her to the bench — a milestone she describes as a testament to hard work, perseverance and the power of mentorship.

Among her most personally gratifying achievements is the Dean José Bahamonde-González IMPACTO Award, presented by the University of Maryland School of Law’s Latinx Law Students Association. The honor, given in the name of a dean widely admired for his compassion, mentorship and unwavering commitment to empowering others, holds special significance for Hernandez because it came directly from the students she aims to support.

Mentorship has always been important to Hernandez, and she has been fortunate to share her experience, knowledge and passion with others throughout her career — from her time as a public school teacher to her service as a public defender and now as a judge. In the past year, she guided four individuals through the judicial appointment process, providing career guidance, building confidence and offering candid feedback throughout. All four advanced to the governor’s shortlist of nominees; three were appointed to the bench. Hernandez believes mentorship is valuable at every stage of professional growth and remains committed to holding the door open for those who follow, helping to ensure the Maryland legal community remains one of integrity, intellect and inspiration.

This is an honoree profile from The Daily Record’s Top 100 Women awards. Information for this profile was sourced from the honoree’s application for the award. The honoree profiles were written using an artificial intelligence program and supported by honoree nominations, applications and letters of recommendation. Each profile was reviewed, fact-checked and edited for accuracy by The Daily Record’s editorial staff.