New York, NY, Thursday, December 19, 2024 – The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (“WBASNY”) is proud to announce that its nominee and member, United States Attorney Trini E. Ross, is the recipient of the New York State Bar Association’s (“NYSBA”) 2025 Kay Crawford Murray Memorial Award. WBASNY extends its congratulations to U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, a member of the Western New York Chapter of WBASNY. This award honors a woman with a distinguished legal career or a rising star who values diversity in the legal profession and has dedicated her time to advancing the professional development and mentorship of women attorneys.

U.S. Attorney Ross has served as a litigator for over 29 years for the federal government. On September 30, 2021, she was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate as a United States Attorney for the Western District of New York (“WDNY”) becoming the first African American woman to hold this position. Since her confirmation, U.S. Attorney Ross has established herself as a leader within her office and the region. In March 2022, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the appointment of U.S. Attorney Ross to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (“AGAC”) where she currently chairs the subcommittee advising Attorney General Garland on matters involving law enforcement, victim assistance, and community relations. She has also fostered collaboration among the WDNY offices, law enforcement agencies, and the Western New York community.

U.S. Attorney Ross has been instrumental in promoting women within the WDNY Attorney General’s office. For the first time in history, women hold the top three positions in the WDNY office. U.S. Attorney Ross has encouraged and mentored women to pursue leadership roles across all divisions in her office. Prior to her leadership, only three women held supervisory positions, while, under her guidance, women now hold 12 of the 19 supervisor positions.

U.S. Attorney Ross serves as a mentor and role model to women throughout New York, demonstrating the importance of diversity in the legal profession. Her efforts in advancing professional development, mentorship, and the promotion of women to key positions within the WDNY office exemplify her commitment to these values.

Past recent WBASNY nominee recipients for the Kay Crawford Murray Memorial Award include Past President of GRAWA, Josie Sheppard Wilson, Esq. (2024); and Hon. Lisa Sokoloff (2021).

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The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY) is the professional membership organization of choice for nearly 4,000 attorneys throughout New York State and the largest statewide women’s bar association in the country. For more than four decades, WBASNY has been a singularly important resource for women lawyers, providing professional networking, continuing legal education programming, leadership training, and advocacy for the rights of women, children, and families. Through involvement with WBASNY’s 20 regional chapters and its 40-plus substantive law committees, WBASNY’s members collaborate with one another on a variety of issues and perform public and community service, in furtherance of its mission to promote the advancement of the status of women in society and women in the legal profession; to promote the fair and equal administration of justice; and to act as a unified voice for its members with respect to issues of statewide, national and international significance to women generally and women attorneys in particular. WBASNY holds United Nations NGO status with the U.N.’s Department of Public Information, and Special Consultative status in association with the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). WBASNY is also a founding member of the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations.