Monroe County judge confirmed for federal bench in Western District of NY

Monroe County Court Judge Meredith Anne Vacca has been confirmed to be a U.S. District Court judge in the Western District of New York.

The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to confirm Vacca, the first woman of color and Asian-American to serve on the Western District bench.

“The Senate confirmation of Judge Meredith Vacca — a proud Rochester native, Korean American and Buffalo Law grad – is a historic moment for western New York and Rochester,” U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer said in a news release.

“A western New Yorker through and through as both a long time Rochester area resident and graduate of the University at Buffalo Law School with experience, legal expertise, Meredith Vacca will bring talent, experience and respect for the law to the Western District of New York court,” he said.

Vacca, 43, spent 17 years as an assistant Monroe County District Attorney. In 2020, she was elected to the County Court bench. Since January 2023 Vacca has served as an acting state Supreme Court justice.

Vacca is a graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Law and currently lives with her husband and young daughter in the city of Rochester.