Judge Lopez continued to make her mark in history as the first Latina to be appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court in 1993.
Lopez holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Smith College and a Juris Doctor from Boston University.
In addition to its length and cost, the trial was notable for attempts by lawyers of Telemachus "Mike" Demoulas to have Judge Lopez removed from the case due to allegations of bias after the jury found that he had defrauded his late brother George's family of shares in the family owned business.
He alleged that he was lured to Nova Scotia under the pretext of a job interview, only to be queried for information the lawyers could then use to prove bias on the part of Judge Lopez.
In January 2008, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court unanimously agreed with the recommendation of the board and ordered Crossen and Curry disbarred.
Judge Lopez, who was angered by the presence of members of the media, proceeded to upbraid the prosecutor as she suspected he had alerted the press.
[7] Three years later the Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct found that Lopez had abused her office and lied under oath and that she ought to apologize and serve a six-month suspension.
Accepting the recommendation of the hearing officer that I be suspended for six months and publicly endorse his findings would no doubt be the easiest and most expeditious way to maintain my judicial position.
[10]On April 14, 2020, 42-year-old Level 3 sex offender, Charles "Ebony" Horton was again arrested, for kidnapping and assault charges after the suspect allegedly threatened young boys at gunpoint.
And on Oct. 28, another juvenile boy told police that a suspect kidnapped him and threatened him with a firearm near 150 Columbia Road, according to the news release.
[11] On September 11, 2006, Judge Maria Lopez debuted, a half-hour show where real life disputants come to settle a case.