Monroe County Family Court Judge and Acting State Supreme Court Judge Stacey Romeo formally announced her candidacy on Thursday for New York State Supreme Court in the Seventh Judicial District, which covers Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, and Yates Counties.
“Most of us don’t want to end up in a courtroom, but if and when we do, all individuals deserve to be treated fairly, impartially and with respect,” said Judge Romeo. “I’m running for State Supreme Court to bring my proven judicial track record of integrity and decades of relevant experience to serve the people of our communities.”
Judge Romeo has decades of experience working in courtrooms across our region. Since 2017, she has served as Monroe County Family Court Judge after winning election to the position in November 2016. She has served as Monroe County Youth Part Judge since 2018 and as an Acting Supreme Court Justice since 2019, where she has routinely handled the types of cases she would hear if elected to State Supreme Court this year. In 2021, she was also elevated to serve as Supervising Judge of Family Court across the Seventh Judicial District. She has presided over cases in nearly every county within the Seventh Judicial District during her tenure on the bench.
Judge Romeo also chairs the Monroe County Child Welfare Collaborative, Monroe County Youth Part Workgroup and the 7th Judicial District’s Family Court Alternatives to Dispute Resolution Committee.
Judge Romeo has also been recognized as a leader within the judiciary and legal community, being named a recipient of the Power 50 Award from The Daily Record and the Rochester Business Journal in 2022 and 2023, mentoring new judges, and lecturing throughout New York State on matters involving Youth Part, Family Court, Alternatives to Dispute Resolution and Judicial Ethics. She also sits on the Office of Policy and Planning Statewide Family Court Working Group, Child Behavioral Health Resources Workgroup, Reducing Disproportionate Minority Representation in Child Welfare Workgroup and Monroe County Custody Part Operations Group.
Additionally, Judge Romeo is a Board Member of the New York State Family Court Judges Association, and a member of the Acting Supreme Court Justices Association, New York Women Judges Association and National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
Prior to her election to the bench, Judge Romeo served as a Court Attorney in Monroe County and New York State Supreme Court. She also sat as a Domestic Violence, Small Claims, Matrimonial and Foreclosure Court Attorney Referee. Earlier in her career, she worked as a private practice attorney for many years handling criminal defense, civil matters, Family Court and matrimonial cases. She also served as Pittsford Town Attorney and Irondequoit Town Attorney.
In making her campaign announcement, Judge Romeo said giving back has always been a priority in her professional and personal life. Her charitable contributions have included being a member of the Sons of Italy, Italian Women’s Civic Club, Italian American Community Center, Italian American Sports Club and Kiwanis Club of Irondequoit (Past Distinguished President). She also is an active member of the St. Kateri Parish in Irondequoit, volunteers with the Greater Rochester Soap Box Derby, and frequently lectures at local high schools and universities on Family Law and juvenile justice issues.
Judge Romeo, 54, earned her Juris Doctorate from the Syracuse University College of Law, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, and a Bachelor’s Degree from Niagara University. She lives in Irondequoit with her husband, Michael, and their three children.
There will be two Supreme Court seats up for election in the Seventh Judicial District this year due to the pending retirements of State Supreme Court Justices Nancy Smith and Thomas Moran.
Have all the Finger Lakes news from Finger Lakes News Radio delivered to your email every morning for FREE! Sign up by clicking here.
