Episode 5: Ajmeri Hoque on Lawyering, Activism, and Finding Your Own Voice

Ajmeri Hoque is a licensed attorney in Ohio and New York with a focus on criminal defense, juvenile defense, and guardian ad litem work. She brings over 15 years of legal experience to her practice.  Originally from Bangladesh, Ajmeri moved with her family to the United States as a toddler and has since dedicated her career to serving marginalized communities in Central Ohio. She graduated from Ohio State with a major in political science in 2006. Throughout her career, Ajmeri has noted that folks from lower-income and underserved communities are the largest demographic she encounters in Court. She has not only represented these vulnerable people in her cases but has also spent extensive time in their neighborhoods and seen their lives firsthand.  Ajmeri is proud to have been able to fight for clients who have been wrongly accused and, by telling their stories to juries and judges, she is proud to have been instrumental in reunifying children with their parents. Please Note: On November 4, 2025, Ajmeri Hoque was elected to Franklin County Municipal Court, becoming Ohio’s first Muslim judge. This interview was recorded while Ajmeri was practicing as an attorney and several months before she was elected. Links and References Interview: ALH Law Group, “They Can’t Say I Didn’t Try” Resource: Pint Sized Protestors News: WOSU, Ajmeri Hoque elected as Ohio’s First Muslim Judge News: New Americans Magazine, “From Dhaka to the Bench” Contexts: NBC4 on arrests of Palestine protestors at OSU, April 2024. Contexts: 10TV on OSU ban of sidewalk chalking, August 2025