VIA Times Filipino American Lifestyle and Culture in the Greater Chicago Area
ATTY. JASMINE V. HERNANDEZ
EXCELLENCE IN LAW
Nominator: Atty. Mark Javier, HOF Awardee
Excellence in Law 2013
Jasmine Villaflor Hernandez is as an Assistant State’s Attorney with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. A dedicated public servant, she currently serves as a second chair in its Juvenile Justice Bureau, Delinquency Division. In that capacity, Jasmine screens, files, and prosecutes misdemeanor and felony crimes committed by anyone under the age of eighteen years old.
Prior to joining the Delinquency Division, Jasmine prosecuted civil cases in the Juvenile Justice Bureau’s Child Protection Division, as well as the Office’s First Municipal Division. As part of the Child Protection Division, she prosecuted civil cases in which minors under the age of 18 are alleged to be abused or neglected because of the action or inaction of adults who are their parents or caretakers, or are dependent because they are without a parent are caretaker. As part of the First Municipal Division, Jasmine prosecuted those accused of committing misdemeanor crimes. She has litigated hundreds of trials and motions.
Before joining the State’s Attorney’s Office, Jasmine served as an Administrative Supervisor and Compliance Officer for the Office of the Chief Judge, First Municipal District.
In that role, she supervised a staff of 13 court officers, served as a liaison between the First Municipal District and various Cook County offices, managed a high school internship program in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, and organized public outreach events designed to educate the general public about legal issues as well as inform them about court and community resources. An active member of the Chicago legal community, Jasmine presently serves as president of the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Chicago (“FALA Chicago”).
She is proud to work alongside FALA Chicago’s distinguished executive officers, board members, and general membership to advance the organization’s mission. Under her leadership, FALA Chicago has increased its reach to include Filipino American attorneys practicing in the suburbs surrounding Chicago, held informational events to educate the general community, as well as raised over $20,000 including $4,000 specifically designated for law student scholarships.
In addition to her work with FALA Chicago, Jasmine is an active member of the Asian American Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, and Illinois State Bar Association. Presently, she serves as second vice-president of the Asian American Bar Association. In addition, Jasmine is an editorial board member of the Chicago Bar Association’s monthly publication, The Record. Jasmine also devotes time to mentoring high school students and has helped over 30 law students pass the bar exam through her work with Minority Legal Education Resources, Inc.
Jasmine has published articles in numerous periodicals and committee newsletters. She has also received recognition from the Original Providence Baptist Church as well as Safe Humane Chicago for her professionalism and service to the community.
Jasmine is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law. She earned her B.A. from Boston University and a Masters in Labor and Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois School of Labor and Industrial Relations.
Currently, she resides in Chicago with her patient husband Joe and their mischievous twoyear- old son Jack.
