Elizabeth Wolford | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of New York | |
| Assumed office July 14, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Frank P. Geraci Jr. |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of New York | |
| Assumed office December 17, 2013 | |
| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Charles J. Siragusa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1966-12-17)December 17, 1966 (age 59) Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Education | Colgate University (BA) University of Notre Dame (JD) |
Elizabeth Ann Wolford[1] (born December 17, 1966) is thechief United States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of New York. She is the first woman to serve as a judge in the Western District[2] and the first woman to be chief judge of the Western District of New York.[3]
Wolford was born in 1966, inBuffalo, New York.[4] She received aBachelor of Arts degree in 1989, fromColgate University. She received aJuris Doctor in 1992, from theUniversity of Notre Dame Law School. Upon graduation from law school she joined the recently formed The Wolford Law Firm LLP as a partner, spending her entire career in private practice at that firm. Her practice was concentrated in the areas of commercial, employment and personal injury litigation before both federal and state courts. She served as President of the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys from 2003 to 2004 and as President of the Foundation of the Monroe County Bar from 2010 to 2012.[5][6]
On May 16, 2013, PresidentBarack Obama nominated Wolford to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, to the seat vacated by JudgeCharles J. Siragusa, who assumedsenior status on December 15, 2012. TheSenate Judiciary Committee reported her nomination out of committee on August 1, 2013 by avoice vote. On December 12, 2013, theUnited States Senate invokedcloture on Wolford’s nomination by a 55–41 vote.[7] Later that day, her nomination was confirmed by a 70–29 vote.[8] She received her judicial commission on December 17, 2013.[6] She became chief judge on July 14, 2021.[3]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of New York 2013–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of New York 2021–present | |
