(New York, NY, Thursday, August 19, 2021) – The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY) applauds the recent appointments of the Honorable Elizabeth A. Wolford, Georgia Pestana, and the Honorable Carolyn Walker-Diallo and congratulates them.

The Honorable Elizabeth A. Wolford was named Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York.  Chief Judge Wolford is the first woman to serve in this role in the Western District and  within the State, outside of the  New York City area.

Georgia Pestana, Esq. was nominated and confirmed as New York City’s Corporation Counsel, making her the 80th Corporation Counsel in New York City history.  She is both the first woman and first Latina Corporation Counsel.

The Honorable Carolyn Walker-Diallo was named Administrative Judge of the New York City Civil Court.  Judge Walker-Diallo is the first Muslim woman elected to serve as a judge in New York State and first Muslim Administrative Judge of the New York City Civil Court.

WBASNY has long advocated for women attorneys to be in leadership positions, and we are proud to see that these ground-breaking appointments were made.  WBASNY salutes and thanks Chief Judge Wolford, Corporation Counsel Pestana, and Administrative Judge Walker-Diallo for their dedicated service and wishes them the very best in these history-making roles.  We know that they will serve as role models for women and girls.

# # #

The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY) is the professional membership organization of choice for more than 4,000 attorneys throughout New York State, and the largest statewide women’s bar association in the country.  For four decades, WBASNY has been a singularly important resource for women lawyers, with professional networking, continuing legal education programming, leadership training, and advocacy for the rights of women, children, and families.  Through involvement with WBASNY’s 20 regional chapters and its 40-plus substantive law committees, WBASNY’s members collaborate with one another on a variety of issues and perform public and community service, in furtherance of its mission to promote the advancement of the status of women in society and women in the legal profession; to promote the fair and equal administration of justice; and to act as a unified voice for its members with respect to issues of statewide, national and international significance to women generally and women attorneys in particular. WBASNY holds United Nations NGO status with the U.N.’s Department of Public Information, and Special Consultative status in association with the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). WBASNY is also a founding member of the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations.