Elizabeth Ann Wolford at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New York · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
Elizabeth Ann Wolford
Judge · U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
Service record and verification
Judicial service and assignments
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York · Judge · Active · December 17, 2013–present · Assignment source ↗
Appointment and verification
- Appointment method
- Presidential appointment with Senate confirmation
- Appointing authority
- Barack Obama
- Source authority
- Federal Judicial Center Biographical Directory
Loading court opinions…
Public docket analytics load when this section is opened.
Biography
Professional career
- The Chief United States District Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, a position she has held since July 14, 2021
- Judge, District Court, W.D. New York, 2013-present
- The first woman to serve as a judge in the Western District and the first woman to become its Chief Judge
- First woman judge in the Western District of New York
Education
- Colgate University — B.A. (1989)
Additional information
- Current Role: Chief Judge since July 14, 2021
- Private practice, Rochester, NY, 1993-2013
- Born 1966 in Buffalo, New York.
- Date of birth: 1966-01-01
- Her practice focused on commercial, employment, and personal injury litigation in both federal and state courts.
- Before joining the federal bench, Wolford practiced law in Rochester, NY, at The Wolford Law Firm, LLP, where she was a partner for her entire career.
- Birth place: Buffalo, NY
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
Courtwide
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Recording and broadcasting
Courtwide
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Published courtroom rules
Judge and named-part rules
Published judge / part rules (10 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Motion practice
It is the Court’s general practice to enter scheduling orders on motions in civil cases, with the exception of motions for attorney’s fees in cases brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). In the event the Court does not enter a scheduling order, the default deadlines set forth in Local Rules of Civil Procedure 5.5 and 7 shall apply.
Source page web_or_saved_captureCommunications with chambers
Pursuant to L. R. Civ. P. 7(a)(2)(C) and L. R. Crim. P. 12(c), a memorandum of law in support of or in opposition to any motion shall not exceed twenty-five pages in length, and a reply memorandum shall not exceed ten pages in length. However, a party may request leave to exceed this page limit by letter sent by fax or email to Chambers, with copies to all counsel, at least one business day before the filing deadline. The request shall identify the amount of additional pages requested.
Source page web_or_saved_captureCommunications with chambers
Courtesy copies (in printed paper, hard-copy form) of all motion papers shall be provided to Chambers. Courtesy copies must include the headers generated upon filing with CM/ECF. PDF copies of motion papers sent via email are not compliant with the Court’s requirement that the parties provide courtesy copies. When the copies are voluminous, the Court requests that courtesy copies be three-hold punched, tabbed, and placed in three-ring binders.
Source page web_or_saved_captureMotion practice
A schedule may be modified only for good cause and with the Court’s consent (see Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b)(4)). Counsel may submit letter requests for an extension of time to submit papers with consent by opposing counsel. Letter requests for extensions of time will not be accepted in unassigned Social Security appeals; any such request must be made by the filing of a formal motion.
Source page web_or_saved_captureAdjournments
Similarly, letter requests for an adjournment of a scheduled oral argument date may be submitted with consent of opposing counsel so long as submitted at least seven business days prior to the scheduled oral argument date. When submitting a letter request, the requesting party shall discuss proposed new dates with opposing counsel to confirm counsel’s availability, and those proposed dates shall be included in the letter.
Source page web_or_saved_captureAdjournments
In the absence of consent by opposing counsel, a motion for adjournment or extension of time must be filed with the Court. Injunctive and/or Expedited Relief
Source page web_or_saved_captureCommunications with chambers
Immediately after the filing of a request for injunctive or expedited relief in any case assigned to Judge Wolford, the moving party must telephone Chambers to notify the Court that the motion has been filed. The Court shall determine the briefing schedule and return date applicable to any such motions.
Source page web_or_saved_captureMotion practice
Requests for injunctive relief shall be made in the form and manner set forth in L.R. Civ. P. 65. Requests to have the motion heard on an expedited basis must also comply with L. R. Civ. P. 7(d). Settlement Agreements
Source page web_or_saved_captureConferences and appearances
Absent extraordinary or unusual circumstances, the Court will not retain jurisdiction to enforce confidential settlement agreements. If the parties wish to have the Court retain jurisdiction over the case, they must obtain the Court’s approval in advance of the filing of such an agreement.
Source page web_or_saved_captureMotion practice
The Court strongly encourages litigants to permit more junior members of the litigation team to examine witnesses at trial and hearings, and to appear for oral argument before the Court. Indeed, in those instances where the Court is inclined to rule on the papers, a representation that the argument would be handled by a more junior lawyer will weigh in favor of holding oral argument. In addition, under circumstances where the more junior attorney is permitted to present the argument to the Court, the Court will entertain reasonable requests for the more senior attorney to supplement any argument that is made. The Court believes it is crucial to provide substantive speaking opportunities to young lawyers, and that the benefits of doing so will accrue to all members of the profession and their clients. Thus, the Court encourages all lawyers practicing before it to keep this goal in mind. It is the way one generation will teach the next to try cases and to maintain our district’s reputation for excellence in trial practice.
Source page web_or_saved_captureShared court rules
Western District of New York — Local Rules of Civil Procedure
U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
WDNY federal district-court civil proceedings only; not criminal proceedings or Bankruptcy Court.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Sources
Identity source checked July 25, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · Federal Judicial Center Biographical Directory · effective December 17, 2013 · Source checked July 25, 2026
View Federal Judicial Center biography ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · CourtListener / Free Law Project · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗