Born and raised in the Bronx, Judge Malave-Gonzalez is of Puerto Rican descent and was raised in the Morrisania Projects. She attended Fordham University and City University of New York Law School in Queens and was elected to Bronx Civil Court in 2005. She  has presided over Civil, Family, Criminal and Supreme Court cases, specifically in the matrimonial department. 

If elected, she will become the first female of Hispanic ethnicity to hold the position.

 “…I strive to serve the residents of the Bronx in a fair and impartial manner while being sensitive to the plight of the citizens of the Bronx,” she wrote in a personal statement for the Vote411 voter guide.

Her opponent, little known Pelham Bay resident, Ms. O’Leary, is a 60-year-old retiree with experience as a court officer, senior court clerk and law assistant in many levels of the court system in Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx. She was raised in University Heights and attended City College of New York, John Jay College and Brooklyn Law School.

Whoever wins the election will be expected to take over a scandal-scarred position. Mr. Holzman appointed Michael Lippman, a lawyer for the public administration, to estate cases in 2006. Mr. Lippman is accused of overcharging for his legal fees and Mr. Holzman, who had a close relationship with him, may be removed from his office before serving out the rest of his term. The matter has not been settled in court yet, but it was enough to deter Mr. Holzman from running again. 

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said he thinks Judge Malave-Gonzalez is the right person for the job.

“She has everything that you’d want for a judge,” he said, adding that she has experience as a sitting judge and Bronx Democratic County Committee’s judicial screening panel, which is made up of representatives from various bar associations, approved her.

Ms. O’Leary said she’s the right person for the job because on top of her life experience and her time presiding in the court system, she can’t serve out her full term, meaning she can work to improve the estate process. The Surrogate position is held for 14 years.