WASHINGTON – Western New York is likely to soon get its first-ever female federal judge.
Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., announced Tuesday that he is recommending that President Obama nominate Elizabeth A. Wolford, a Buffalo native and Rochester attorney, for the post.
Wolford would serve in Rochester, where she would succeed U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa, who retired in December.
“One of my goals was to elevate a woman to the federal bench in Western New York, and Elizabeth would not only do that, but, more importantly, she has all the right skills and intellect to be an insightful, modest and well-respected judge,” Schumer said.
Wolford is a partner at the Wolford Law Firm LLP in Rochester, where she represents clients in both federal and state courts in business and employment litigation.
“She forged a distinguished legal career and built a very successful practice, but her sense of public service and love of the law has motivated her to bring her talents to the bench,” Schumer said.
Wolford, born in Buffalo in 1966, was raised in Rochester and currently lives in Honeoye Falls.
She is a graduate of Colgate University and the University of Notre Dame Law School.
The president traditionally takes the recommendations of the state’s senators when picking federal judges, and aides to Schumer said they expect the Senate to confirm Wolford’s appointment without controversy.
Wolford does not have a long history of political involvement. A search of her political donations found that she had made campaign contributions to one politician – Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, D-Fairport – in recent years. Slaughter received $4,972 from Wolford between 2002 and 2012.
email: jzremski@buffnews.com
Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., announced Tuesday that he is recommending that President Obama nominate Elizabeth A. Wolford, a Buffalo native and Rochester attorney, for the post.
Wolford would serve in Rochester, where she would succeed U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa, who retired in December.
“One of my goals was to elevate a woman to the federal bench in Western New York, and Elizabeth would not only do that, but, more importantly, she has all the right skills and intellect to be an insightful, modest and well-respected judge,” Schumer said.
Wolford is a partner at the Wolford Law Firm LLP in Rochester, where she represents clients in both federal and state courts in business and employment litigation.
“She forged a distinguished legal career and built a very successful practice, but her sense of public service and love of the law has motivated her to bring her talents to the bench,” Schumer said.
Wolford, born in Buffalo in 1966, was raised in Rochester and currently lives in Honeoye Falls.
She is a graduate of Colgate University and the University of Notre Dame Law School.
The president traditionally takes the recommendations of the state’s senators when picking federal judges, and aides to Schumer said they expect the Senate to confirm Wolford’s appointment without controversy.
Wolford does not have a long history of political involvement. A search of her political donations found that she had made campaign contributions to one politician – Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, D-Fairport – in recent years. Slaughter received $4,972 from Wolford between 2002 and 2012.
email: jzremski@buffnews.com