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Home » Valentine's Day » Elizabeth Wolford makes history as she becomes chief judge of the Western District of New York

Elizabeth Wolford makes history as she becomes chief judge of the Western District of New York

Elizabeth Wolford was the first woman to serve as district judge in the Western District of New York when she was selected by President Barack Obama in 2013.

Now she will make history as she works to become the chief judge of the district. She will be the first woman that has this tole in any part of the state outside of New York City.

Wolford was recommended by Charles Schumer, a Democrat Senator, for the position.


Wolford, born in Buffalo, moved to Rochester where she was raised and graduated from Fairport High School. She now lives in Honeoye Falls and earned her bachelor’s from Colgate University and then her law degree at Notre Dame Law School in Indiana.

She worked as a lawyer at her fathers law firm for twenty years practicing commercial and employment litigation in private practice and is the former president of the Monroe County Bar Association and the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys.