MARTIZA BUITRAGO – POISED TO MAKE HISTORY
Maritza Buitrago, a dedicated public servant who has been helping the community for over 20 years, is running as the Democratic and Working Families Party candidate for Monroe County Family Court Judge – a newly created seat. She is the only candidate in this race who has received the highest ratings from the Monroe County Bar Association, the Rochester Black Bar Association, the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys and from the Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commission Seventh Judicial District. She has also been endorsed by the Monroe County Law Enforcement Association, the Rochester Police Locust Club, the Monroe County Police Benevolent Association, the Rochester Firefighters Association and the New York State CAP Council United Auto Workers.
Buitrago has spent her entire legal career of over 15 years in the public sector. She began practicing law in 1999 at the Legal Aid Society, where she represented clients in domestic violence and matrimonial cases. In 2000, she joined the Monroe County Public Defender’s office where she dedicated herself to ensuring that justice was equally provided to all members of our community. Buitrago served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Rochester Regional Office, but her devotion to representing families in need led her to return to the family court section of the Monroe County Public Defender’s office in 2009. Since then, she works exclusively in Family Court.
Buitrago is the first Latina to run for Family Court Judge. A native of Puerto Rico, Buitrago is uniquely qualified for Family Court as she is both an experienced lawyer and a former teacher. She hails from a family dedicated to law and education. She grew up as the daughter of a judge who served his community for 25 years; coming to Rochester twenty four years ago as a recipient of the Alumni and the AHORA Scholarship for Hispanic students. She earned her Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and History and her Master’s Degree in Teaching at the University of Rochester and obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from SUNY at Buffalo School of Law. Following a family tradition of public service, Buitrago has taught Social Studies in the Rochester City School District and Spanish at the University of Rochester as well as interned with the Rochester City Council. She is the first Latina to run for Family Court post.
Buitrago’s commitment to working with the underprivileged has earned the admiration of those in the legal community. In 2014, the Daily Record awarded her the Excellence in Law Unsung Legal Hero Award in recognition of her work in civil legal services with those in need, often behind the scenes.
Buitrago is involved with the Hispanic National Bar Association, where her work has earned her the praise of its New York Regional President Neysa Alsina: “Maritza is an outstanding leader with the ability to bring people together for a common cause. She is brilliant and responsive and possesses the personality, demeanor and strength to be an extraordinary judge.”
Buitrago lives in Penfield with her partner Ricardo. Together, they helped raise his two sons, 27 year old Mike and 24 year old Nick. Additionally, she is a member of a wide array of community organizations such as the IBERO American Action League, Latinas Unidas, Rotary Club, the Rochester Women’s Network and the Italian American Sports Club. Maritza also serves as a member of the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys, the Hispanic National Bar Association, the Monroe County Bar Association, the Rochester Black Bar Association, and the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York.
For Immediate Release Contact: Heather Neu at 716.698.3453