Judge Cruz was appointed as an Administrative Law Judge for the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings in April 2022.
Judge Cruz began her legal career as an Assistant Public Defender in Fort Myers, Florida, representing clients in misdemeanor and felony cases. In 2008, Judge Cruz joined the Florida Department of Children and Families as a Children’s Legal Services attorney, representing the state in child abuse and neglect matters, as well as serving as a Supervising Attorney from 2010-2014.
In 2014, Judge Cruz joined the Superior Court of the District of Columbia as an Attorney Advisor with the Family Court, and later became the Family Court Supervisory Attorney. In this role, Judge Cruz oversaw all legal branches of the Family Court, including the Counsel for Child Abuse and Neglect, Family Court Self-Help Center, and the Attorney Negotiators. Judge Cruz remained with the Family Court until her appointment as an ALJ.
Judge Cruz received her B.A. in Government from the University of Virginia and her J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Judge Cruz is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia, Florida, and the United States Supreme Court.