RM
Rita M. Mella
Candidate for New York County Surrogate Court Judge
DEM
INCUMBENT
Biography
Rita M. Mella, born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, immigrated to New York City in the 1980s and earned her J.D. from CUNY School of Law in 1991. She served 13 years as a court attorney/law clerk before being elected Civil Court Judge in 2006. In 2012, Mella became the first Latina elected to the New York County Surrogate's Court, where she currently presides.
Top Priorities
- Increase transparency, efficiency, and accountability in Surrogate's Court
- Improve access to justice for underserved communities and the broader public
- Leverage managerial experience for courthouse oversight and public complaints