Former colleagues on Thursday rallied around the memory of a Gwinnett County judge. Last year, Recorder’s Court Judge Ramón Alvarado died of complications resulting from treatment for acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive form of cancer.
State and local judges, along with members of the Board of Commissioners, attended a Memorial to honor Alvarado. The board presented a proclamation of remembrance and unveiled a photo of the late judge.
“Although my time on the bench with Ramon was short, his impact on me as a judge and a person will stay with me for the rest of my days,” said Chief Judge Kathrine Armstrong. “He made us all want to be the best we could be – so we will honor his memory and his vision for Recorder’s Court as we serve the community.”
Alvarado, who was the first Hispanic and Korean judge in Gwinnett County, had a passion for justice and equity.
“Always humble, Ramón worked hard and sought no recognition. At his swearing-in ceremony, he said he had, ‘done the easy task of walking through the many doors that others opened.’ So, I would argue that he didn’t just walk through doors — he also opened them and created pathways for others who now follow in his footsteps,” said Judge Alvarado’s friend and District 2 Commissioner Ben Ku.
According to Judge Armstrong, former classmates at Judge Alvarado’s alma mater are raising funds for a scholarship to benefit the University of Wisconsin’s Legal Education Opportunities Program. As a student, Alvarado was a part of the program, which recruits and retains students of color and those from disadvantaged groups.