SCHUMER RECOMMENDS WESTERN NY NATIVE ELIZABETH WOLFORD TO SERVE ON WESTERN DISTRICT COURT – IF CONFIRMED WOULD BE FIRST- EVER WOMAN TO SERVE ON FEDERAL BENCH IN WESTERN DISTRICT
Wolford Has Had Very Respected and Successful Legal Career in Private Sector as Partner at the Wolford Law Firm LLP, While Also Serving the Community; Wolford Has Worked in Rochester for 20 Years And Built Respected Law Practice
Born In Buffalo & Raised in Rochester – “Liz Wolford Is a True Blue Western New Yorker That Will Represent the Region With Distinction & Honor,” Schumer
Schumer: Wolford Embodies Best Qualities of a Legal Professional and Will Be Fair, Moderate Judge
Yesterday, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he is recommending Elizabeth Wolford to President Obama to serve as a judge in the Western District federal court. Ms. Wolford is a history-making pick, as she would become the first woman to serve as a federal judge in New York’s Western District. She would take the seat left vacant when District Court Judge Charles Siragusa retired in December. Siragusa continues to work on senior status in the Rochester-based district.
Schumer laid out several reasons Wolford would make an excellent fit for the job, saying that Wolford’s stellar legal background, close ties to Western New York and the Rochester region, even-handedness, temperament and demonstrated leadership skills would make her an excellent choice for the Western District Court. Schumer also said that she is highly capable and very qualified for the position.
“I am honored to recommend Buffalo-born and Rochester-raised Elizabeth Wolford to President Obama to serve as the first female judge in the history of the Western District of New York,” said Schumer. “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. 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.”
Wolford, who was born in Buffalo on December 17, 1966, now resides in Honeoye Falls. She grew up in the Rochester area, and is a proud alumni of the Fairport School District. Wolford graduated from Colgate University in 1989 and received her law degree from Notre Dame Law School in 1992. Ms. Wolford is a Partner at the Wolford Law Firm LLP, in Rochester, where she represents clients in both federal and state courts in a variety of complex business, commercial, and employment litigation. There she gained extensive experience in both the state and federal justice systems.
During nearly two decades at The Wolford Law Firm, Ms. Wolford has represented numerous small businesses in the Rochester-Finger Lakes Region. In 2000, Wolford was awarded a Special Service Award by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York for excellence in the vigorous representation of a pro bono client in a civil rights case. In 2003, Wolford was named “Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year” by the New York State Bar Association. Last June, she won the President’s Award by the Monroe County Bar Association.
Wolford is not only a respected legal practitioner; she is also an active member of the Rochester-Finger Lakes community. She has dedicated a tremendous amount of time from her practice to serve residents as the former President of the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys. Additionally, Wolford served on the board of Sojourner House at Pathstone, a transitional home for women in crisis, and on the Volunteer Legal Services Project.