ABOUT GLORIA
My name is Gloria Ochoa-Bruck (she/her/hers), and I am running for re-election as your Spokane Municipal Judge Position 3.
re-elect judge gloria
I was born in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. My parents immigrated to the United States when I was 4 months old. My Dad had a 2nd-grade education, and my Mom went to school for two months so she could learn to read and write.
My parents and I were represented by a pro bono attorney and we were fortunate to be eligible to adjust our immigration status through the 1986 Farmworker’s Amnesty Act. It was a life-changing opportunity for our family. I decided I wanted to be an attorney someday.
My parents instilled in us a strong work ethic from an early age. My siblings and I all worked in high school. I worked at McDonald’s starting my sophomore year. I worked full time while earning my AA degree from Columbia Basin College and then my BA in Business Administration from WSU Tri-Cities.
I didn’t know how I was going to get to law school, but I talked about it often with my Mom. My parents opened the first Latinx-owned retail business in downtown Pasco in 1985. While I was still working on my AA degree, I shared a secret dream I had with her. We were working on stocking merchandise in her shop, and I told her that I not only wanted to be an attorney, but I also wanted to be a Judge someday.
She stopped what she was doing and turned to me and said, “Gloria, pon los pies sobre la tierra. Esas cosas no son para la gente como nosotros.” (Translation – Gloria, put your feet on the ground. Those things are not for people like us). I knew it came from a place of love and protection, but I also believed that it couldn’t be true.
Now, I am a first-generation college graduate. My parents adjusted their immigration status under President Reagan’s 1986 Farmworkers Amnesty Act. They sponsored me, and after going through the process, I became a Naturalized U.S. Citizen in my first year of law school. I am an example of what is possible when people are given the opportunity to work towards their goals and dreams.
I am the proud mother of son Alex, age 30, music producer and Allstate Agent living in Seattle, son Max, age 23, a U.S. Marine stationed in Twentynine Palms, CA, daughter Isabella, age 21, recent graduate with a degree in Criminal Justice in Criminology from Washington State University, and daughter Addison, age 14, an 8th grader currently an honor roll student serving as ASB President and incoming Freshman cheerleader.
My husband, Nick, and I are both first-generation college graduates. We have worked hard to instill a strong work ethic, determination and drive, and self-sufficiency and accountability in our children.
I value and prioritize spending time with my family and our two dogs, Daisy and Toby. I enjoy spending time with friends, long walks with the dogs, reading, traveling, and watching documentaries. I believe in giving back to my community and I have a long-standing history of service to my community.
I worked hard for over 20 years to prepare myself to be both experienced and qualified to serve as a judicial officer. I have served as a deputy prosecutor, defense attorney, Pro Tem Judge, Tribal Court Judge, and worked on criminal justice reform initiatives. I have spent time and energy learning about racial equity, educating myself on how to build equitable and accessible systems for the LGTBQIA2S+ and immigrant communities, learning about religious plurality, and the challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
The driving reason I invested in my education to earn a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology was to be educated and better informed on what policies I propose and advocate for to work toward being a part of building safe communities and creating better outcomes for those impacted by the criminal justice system. Judges can no longer be processors of people and cases. Judges need to be a part of creating solutions within the bounds of the judicial canons.
I am asking for your vote in November to continue serving the City of Spokane.
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Every dollar goes into our campaign to re-elect Judge Gloria Ochoa-Bruck to Spokane Municipal Court Pos 3.