PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month and Spectrum Bay News 9 is highlighting those in the community making an impact like Pinellas County Judge Steve Berlin. 

Reminders of his 20 years in the Army lay throughout his office, from his uniforms to coins.  

A St. Pete native, he went to West Point out of high school and spent time as a field artillery officer before the Army sent him to law school. 

Now, he’s a circuit judge with a focus on family law.

“All these parents, they want something better for their children,” he said. “Many of the disputes in family law are just trying to get their kids in the best possible place for them.” 

The number of cases heard changes each week, but the day we met, they were all virtual.

“It means a lot for me to be here, to be able to provide structure and a place for people to resolve their disputes within the rule of law that my family didn’t have in Vietnam,” he said.  

Steve’s father served in the military as well, and his mother is a Vietnamese immigrant. When Steve was just 13, his father died. 

The years that followed were difficult, but he credits his mom for encouraging him and helping him reach his goals. 

Now a judge for nearly five years, he aims to inspire others. 

“I do not know of any other Vietnamese descent judges in Florida and it’s important once you’ve arrived in a position to be able to tell others you can do this too,” he said. 

Whether it’s someone who’s Vietnamese or anyone else of Asian descent, he hopes to see more people get involved in studying law, because he says it’s our rule of law that makes our country great.