On Wednesday, March 6, Chief Justice Roberto Ronquillo Jr. paid a visit to EHS’ Law Pathway students. Justice Ronquillo Jr. has been the Chief Justice of the Boston Municipal Court for over 10 years and is responsible for overseeing eight courthouses that make up the court system.
Hailing from El Paso, Texas, Ronquillo Jr. decided very young that he wanted to become a lawyer after visiting his uncle, who was also a lawyer, in a courtroom.
Justice Ronquillo Jr. spoke about his youth and growing up in El Paso. He also talked about how working with his father in his auto mechanic garage cleaning tools and later learning how to take care of cars gave him the strength and work ethic to pursue his dreams of becoming an attorney. Ronquillo Jr. pursued his dream at the New England School of Law and then became Assistant District Attorney for Suffolk County.
Later, he created the Law Offices of Ronquillo and Associates where he did pro bono legal work for those who needed help and was very vocal about Latino issues in Chelsea and bordering cities. He then became a judge after applying three times, finally breaking through after being rejected the first two times.
“You have to separate your head from your heart,” said Ronquillo Jr. about the role of being a lawyer. “You have to present in a way where you appeal to the jury emotionally but logically.”
“When I was a new judge, one of the things that bothered me was a case where a man beat his mother,” said Ronquillo Jr. after being asked about how he dealt with bias in the courtroom. “I got angry and I held him on high bail. I’m driving home and I’m thinking, ‘Am I letting my opinion affect my decision?’ Even if they didn’t do it but were charged, I had a bias. To me, it’s morally wrong, but legally, it is fair and I have to treat everyone fair–it’s the law.”
While presiding over the Boston Municipal Court, Justice Ronquillo Jr. also works at the New England School of Law, where he teaches trial practice. Like our Mock Trial Club, the course conducts full mock trials with all proceedings and are critiqued by class members and the instructor.
