Justice Paula Feroleto is a graduate of Georgetown University and the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School. She started her legal career in 1983 at the law firm of Brown & Kelly, LLP. She specialized in civil litigation and handled many jury trials during her time as an attorney. Judge Feroleto was elected to State Supreme Court in November 2004. She was re-elected in 2018.
As a State Supreme Court Justice she has handled cases in all eight counties covered by the district. She was appointed Administrative Judge of the District by the Honorable Ann Pfau in 2009 and served in that capacity until she stepped away from administration in 2021 to return to the trial bench. As Administrative Judge she was responsible for over seeing court operations in 22 buildings including Supreme and County civil and criminal matters, Family court, Surrogate Court and eleven City Courts in the district.
Her work as a jurist, particularly during the difficult COVID year, has been recognized with awards from many organizations including the Bar Association of Erie County, the Eighth Judicial District Diversity Steering Committee and the New York State Trial Lawyer’s Association, Western Region Affiliate.