One of the first things Diana Gonzalez did after winning election to
Miami-Dade County Court was get married, becoming Diana Gonzalez-Whyte.
The
former assistant public defender who spent three years in private
practice unseated former Judge Ana Maria Pando last November and was
ceremoniously sworn in Friday.
"She's passionate about the law,
passionate about her job, passionate about her faith and passionate
about the community," said Dade County Bar Association president Garrett
Biondo, noting Gonzalez-Whyte is the first Colombian-American on the
Miami-Dade bench.
Tara O'Brien, a former colleague from the public
defender's office, said she watched Gonzalez-Whyte defend a murder
suspect as a private practitioner without O'Brien as a second chair.
"I was on pins and needles — but not Diana," O'Brien said.
Gonzalez-Whyte secured an acquittal.
Another
former assistant public defender, Suzanne Villano, recalled seeing
Gonzalez-Whyte in the office as early as 5 a.m. preparing for trial and
as late as 11 p.m. waiting for a verdict.
Once she invited Villano
to accompany her to jail at 8:30 on a Saturday night "because that's
the best time to see the clients," Villano said Gonzalez-Whyte told her.
"She was always the people's lawyer, and she's going to be the people's judge," Villano said.
After
Gonzalez-Whyte took her ceremonial oath, she admitted being ecstatic,
nervous and scared but said she was "living my dream."
"If I'm here, anyone can be here — if you work hard," she said.