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JUDGE E. JEANNETTE OGDEN
Judge E. Jeannette Ogden was appointed to the Buffalo City Court by Mayor Anthony Masiello in June of 1995. Mayor Masiello cited Judge Ogden's broad based experience in the law as the basis for her appointment. In November of 1995, Judge Ogden was elected to serve a ten (10) year term on the Buffalo City Court and reelected to serve another (10) year term in 2005. In January 2001, Judge Ogden was appointed as an Acting County Court Judge in order to handle all levels of criminal cases involving domestic violence. The appointment was expanded to Acting Family Court Judge in January, 2003. Judge Ogden's appointment to the Erie County Family Court gives her the distinction of being the first and only African American Woman to serve on the Family Court in Erie County. Judge Ogden also serves as the "back up" judge in the Buffalo Mental Health Court. She has developed a reputation as a "no nonsense" judge as a result of her firm but fair handling of thousands cases.
Prior to her judicial appointment, Judge Ogden worked as a Trial Lawyer for CIGNA Insurance Companies defending corporations, school districts, hospitals and municipalities, while at the same time operating her own private general law practice. She is also a former Prosecutor with the Erie County District Attorney's Office and a former Assistant Erie County Attorney where she served as legal Counsel to the Erie County Medical Center, Purchasing Department and Erie Community College.
Judge Ogden is a graduate of Buffalo Public Schools and Buffalo State College, where she earned a BS Degree in Criminal Justice and periodically returns to teach. She received her Juris Doctorate Degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School and also presently instructs courses in Trial Technique and Mental Health Issues in Criminal Law.
Her professional affiliations include memberships on the New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics; the Gender and Racial Fairness Committee for NY Courts; the Character & Fitness Committee of the NYS Supreme Court Appellate Division 4th Dept.; the Erie Community College Criminal Justice Advisory Committee; President of the University at Buffalo Law School Alumni Association; the Women's Bar Association of WNY; the American, New York State and Erie County Bar Associations and the National Association of Women Judges. She is the immediate past President of the Erie County Bar Foundation, Secretary of the New York State Association of Women Judges, Past President of both the Women Lawyers of WNY and the Minority Bar Association of WNY and the Minority Bar Association of WNY Foundation, Inc.
Hard work and community service have always been important values to Judge Ogden. Her community memberships include The Black Leadership Forum, The Erie County Chapter of Links, Inc., the Women's Group, the Business and Professional Women's Association, the NAACP, the League of Women Voters, the Metropolitan Alliance of Black School Educators, the Board of Directors of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, Hopevale, Inc. and the City of Buffalo Ethic's Nominating Committee.
Judge Ogden presently serves as a mentor to students in elementary, high school, college and law school and regularly appears as a speaker for civic and community organizations, public schools and churches. Her message and her motto are to "lift as you climb."
Judge Ogden is the recipient of many awards and acknowledgments for her long standing community involvement. She exemplifies the product of hard work, perseverance and commitment. Judge Ogden attributes all of her accomplishments to the support of a loving family and a strong belief in God. She is a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church and resides in Buffalo with her family.