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View Full Version : Judge Rita Mella wins Democratic primary in Manhattan



NewsWhore
09-19-2012, 02:00 PM
Judge Rita Mella is expected to become the first surrogate of Dominican descent to be appointed in the United States. Last week she won the Democratic primary for Manhattan Surrogate judge with 60% of the vote to her rival Barbara Jaffe's 40%. In November she will run unopposed to succeed Kristen Booth Glen, who has reached mandatory retirement age of 70, as one of the borough's two surrogates.

Judge Mella, 50, came to the United States from the Dominican Republic at the age of 22 for graduate study in Latin American history. Seven years later, in 1991, she received her degree from CUNY Law School. Prior to running for surrogate judge, she served in the Criminal Court in Manhattan. During that time she chaired the Misdemeanor Treatment Court for three years.

The surrogate's court oversees the probate of wills, the distribution of estates and child adoptions. If she is elected in November, she will serve a 14-year term and will earn US$160,000 a year.

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