In just a few days, two African-American women will make history in the judicial systems of Monroe County and the city of Rochester.
“The judicial branch is now just a tad bit more diverse you know,” said Karen Bailey Turner, judge-elect for Monroe County Court.
The benches in both localities will show diversity through age, gender, and race.
Nicole Morris will be the youngest judge sworn-in for Rochester City Court and in the 7th judicial district of New York state.
“I am a people's judge, that I come from this community, I understand some of the unique issues that impact our community, that I'm here to do good, that I want to treat everyone with dignity and respect and ultimately help,” said Nicole Morris, judge-elect for Rochester City Court.
Morris said it's important that she represent young people with integrity and pave the way for other young people to work in the court system.
Judge-elect Morris noted that she has seen the criminal justice system from both sides with family members going to prison and being shot.
“I understand how poverty, I understand how mental health issues, I understand how addiction, how it all is interconnected with crime and sometimes the reason, the underlying reason why people commit crimes or why they do what they do,” said Morris.
The judge-elect was raised in the city and is a graduate of the Rochester City School District.
Morris earned degrees from Monroe Community College and Buffalo State College before completing her Juris Doctorate degree at Buffalo Law School.
After school, she came back to Rochester.
“Since I was younger I wanted to be an attorney, and it was always important for me to share my gifts and my talents to bring it back to my community," said Morris. "So I've always knew that I was going to return back to Rochester and be a servant in my community."
On the Monroe County court side, Judge-Elect Karen Bailey Turner will be the first sworn African-American on the bench.
Turner is an immigrant born in England and raised in Caribbean before coming to the United States.
The judge-elect earned degrees from Cornell University, American University before earning her Juris Doctorate degree from Buffalo Law School.
“I feel honored, but I know that I'm experienced after 21 years of practicing law, of litigating, representing clients, so I know I’m ready for the position,” said Turner.
Turner understands she's a pioneer, and understands her role is to uphold the law fairly.
The judge-elect believes her role on the bench will add a different perspective.
“I’ve had the opportunity for over two decades to represent people, so I know that you know in terms of our laws and our Constitution, we aspire to treat people fairly, we aspire to treat everyone the same way, we aspire to be fair just, but I think coming from those communities, I know that's not always the case,” Turner said.
Five years ago, she says it’s not likely she would have run for the county court judge seat.
“For a long time I was concerned about the politics, the implication of being elected and serving a fair and impartial way, and for a long time all I said is I just want to be an advocate, I just want to represent people, but I think more recently, it's just become apparent how important it is to be the decision maker,” said Turner.
Judge-Elect Morris had this to say to anyone inspired by her, “don't worry about the status quo, don't worry about doing things the way everyone tells you you need to do them or what everyone is use to, run your own race, and be the best that you can be and know that anything is possible. It doesn't matter where you come from.”
Both women have been sworn in and their terms will start the first of the year.