ALUMNI PROFILE
Humble Origins Prepared Bronx Judge Rosado ’97 for Public Service Career BY SARAH CHILD
Hon. Llinét Beltré Rosado ’97 children,” said Rosado, who also came from modest beginnings, holds experience in immigraemigrating from the Dominican tion, medical malpractice, labor Republic and growing up in law, products liability and Manhattan’s Lower East Side commercial law. with her mother and three sisters Rosado was profoundly after her parents divorced. It was influenced by her aunt, who was there that she was first exposed an attorney in the Dominican to the challenges of urban living, Republic. She also held fast to the witnessing drug abuse and police advice of her mother, who always injustice in the neighborhoods stressed the value of education. around her. Consequently, she attended the “As a result, I went to Albany University at Albany on a full Law School with the mindset scholarship and earned a degree that I was going to use the in history with a concentration in criminal justice system to help American politics and a minor in people,” she said. Africana studies. And she has. Rosado, who always knew Rosado is currently the only she wanted to be a lawyer, went Latina judge sitting in the Bronx on to Albany Law School where Family Court, where she was the Post-Convictions Remedies elected Civil Clinic with Court Judge Professor Mary “My first love was Lynch changed in 2012 after winning 91% her world. As an by far criminal of votes in a intern, she helped law, but that landslide victory. represent Charlene The highlight Brundidge, a experience of her inducbattered woman showed me I tion ceremony who was charged occurred when wanted to work in with murdering her the Bible used husband. public interest.” to swear her in Under the was supplied by defense of Rosado’s a young woman team, Brundidge who had been a child in one of was granted the first clemency her custody cases. ever given to a victim of domestic “To this day, many children violence by Gov. George Pataki. stay in touch with me and let me “My first love was by far know how I’ve impacted their criminal law, but that experience lives,” she said. showed me I wanted to work Rosado presides over custody, in public interest,” said Rosado, visitation and family offense who credits the Clinic for giving petitions and is the co-chair of her a real taste for practicing both the Custody, Visitation & law and showing her a victim’s Family Offenses Taskforce and experience firsthand. the Bronx Family Court newsletRosado remained close with ter, The Grand Disclosure. Her Professor Lynch and the clinic background in criminal, family members, noting that they played and civil law sets her apart from a significant role preparing her other attorneys and candidates wedding during her first year of seeking the bench. law school and made up most “Dabbling in so many areas of the reception guests. She had has afforded me the perspecmet her husband Armando while tives of batterers, victims and attending UAlbany and they were
married in their home by a justice of the peace. She gave birth to her first child Elias, now 17, in her second year at Albany Law. After leaving law school, she embarked on her quest to serve the public and spent six years as a defense attorney for the Bronx Legal Aid Society where she tried cases for accused individuals who couldn’t afford a lawyer. She also gave birth to her second child, Nickolas, now 11. Rosado worked as a court attorney to Hon. Llinét Beltré Rosado ’97 the Hon. Manuel J. Mendez, the Hon. Sallie Manzanet-Daniels and the colleges and law schools, coaching Hon. Robert E. Torres. She also for mock trial competitions and served as a law guardian with encouraging lawyers to explore all the Children’s Law Center in types of law like she did. Bronx Family Court where she “I believe attorneys often get represented children in custody, stuck in their particular area of visitation, neglect, child support law, and that’s a disservice,” she and domestic violence cases. said. “The law is so beautiful and “I am most proud of my work you can actually pick up any law in family court because I really book and focus on that particular fought for the best interest of law for the day and know it. the child,” she said. “I think That’s what I try to do.” my experience growing up in a The words of Rosado’s Albany one-parent home really allowed Law School commencement me to connect with the children speaker Geraldine Ferraro still that I represented.” stick with her. Rosado has taught legal “She was running for vice courses at Eugenio Maria de president at the time, and she Hostos Community College made a statement that impacted since 1999 and has been a my life in an amazing way,” said member of the Dominican Bar Rosado. “She said ‘Don’t follow Association and the Black Bar the money, follow your heart and Association of Bronx County. the attorney who you are going She is currently a member of the to be.’” Association of Judges of Hispanic “Albany Law School offered Heritage, N.Y.C. Family Court me an immense opportunity. It Judges Association, N.Y.S. Family has produced many public interCourt Judges Association and est attorneys, for whom Ferraro’s The Alliance. message rings true. I’m honored She’s passionate about giving to be one of them.” back to the community and visits elementary schools, high schools,
Summer 2014
MAGAZINE
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