“I was about 7-years-old when I said 'I want to be a judge', but I really didn’t know what that meant," said Circuit Court Judge Alane Laboda.
Judge Laboda and Lee County Judge Josephine Gagliardi are two women who grew up in different states but had very similar dreams growing up.
Judge Laboda is a Southwest Florida local and University of Miami Law graduate. Judge Gagliardi graduated from Antioch School of Law in Washington D.C.
Though their careers started in separate parts of the country, they ended up in Southwest Florida sharing the bench. Both women agreed, their careers have been extremely rewarding, but many people don't realize what it takes to be a judge. “It’s a public position, it’s a 24/7 job," explained Judge Gagliardi. "And we are judged by everybody. Not only do we do the judging, we are judged every day.”
The legal field is also an industry that has evolved for women over the years. Before taking on their current roles, both women practiced as trial attorneys which was usually considered a man's role.
"It was always assumed I was the court reporter," recalled Judge Laboda. "We want you here or you can set up here, and I would say I’m not here for that job, I’m here for another job. I’m the attorney on the other side of the case.”
“Especially in front of a certain judge, I would have to go home and change into a skirt because you couldn’t wear pants in front of a federal judge," said Judge Gagliardi. "It was a different era and I had to overcome a lot of those things.”
Not only have these women succeed in their careers, but they're incredible mothers too. Judge Gagliardi said even though her twin sons are adults now, she remembers the struggle of getting it all done.
“There were a lot of Uncrustables, McDonalds, bad food," she had joked. "Not bad food, but you know."
As the mother of two teenage daughters, Judge Laboda said you learn to be highly efficient while working in the legal field and being a parent.
“I had a child in school with a headache and she wanted to come home, but she couldn’t get in touch with me," Judge Laboda said as she described a situation that happened the day before. " But my kids know, there is a list of people to call and you kind of just need to program your people too.”
Not much has ever slowed these two powerful women down, but during the tough moments, they credit their colleagues for helping them through it. No matter the career you choose, these women said the key to success is to find the balance between all of the roles you take on.
“You have to figure how to be in the moment," said Judge Laboda. "I feel that if you can do that, I think you’ll find a happier work-family balance.“
