FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 13, 2015

Media Contact: Jamie Romeo (585) 831-2373

MARITZA BUITRAGO ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR

MONROE COUNTY FAMILY COURT JUDGE
(ROCHESTER, N.Y.) Maritza Buitrago, a dedicated public servant who has been helping the community for over 20 years,
is announcing her candidacy as a Democrat for Monroe County Family Court Judge a newly created seat. She is the only
candidate actively in this race that has been rated Highly Qualified by the Monroe County Bar Association.
Buitrago has spent her entire 15-year legal career 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 Defenders 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 Defenders office in
2009. Since then, she has diligently worked in Family Court every day representing clients in a wide variety of family law cases.
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 three 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 Masters 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 Judge.
Buitragos 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.
There is no better exemplar of the Democratic Partys virtues better than Maritza Buitrago. said Monroe County
Democratic Committee Chairman Dave Garretson. Her work as a public defender, unique cultural perspective, and her deep
roots within the community make her an immensely qualified candidate.
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, 26 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, Rochester Latino Rotary Club, and the Rochester Womens Network. 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 Womens Bar Association of the State of New York.
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