Hon. Elizabeth Lopez

Hon. Elizabeth Lopez is a first-generation Mexican American and former migrant farmworker who became the first in her family to attend college. She now serves as a District Court Judge for Baltimore City. Previously, she was the Supervising Assistant Federal Public Defender and DEI Coordinator for the Office of the Federal Public Defender in Maryland.

With nearly two decades of experience, she represented clients in complex felony and misdemeanor cases, trained and supervised attorneys, and developed statewide best-practice models for juveniles and emerging adults in the criminal legal system. Previously, she held multiple leadership roles at the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, spearheading initiatives that expanded services for young people and advanced systemic reform.

Judge Lopez earned her J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis and her B.A. in English and Philosophy from Seattle University.