Suzanne Ramos Bolanos is known as Judge Suzanne Bolanos in the Superior Court of San Francisco. She was first appointed to the Superior Court by Governor Gray Davis in September of 2003.
Judge Bolanos is the first Lanita judge appointed in San Francisco and throughout the county. She has experience in presiding over civil trials, criminal court cases as well as serving on the Appellate Division of the Superior Court. Judge Bolanos also serves on several committees in the Court, including the Executive Committee and the Court Technology Committee. She is a co-chair of the Color of Justice program through the Court. This is a program that has been established to assist and develop an interest in serving in the judiciary and in the field of law for students of color.
Educational Background
Judge Bolanos attended the University of California at Berkley and received her Bachelor of Arts. After graduating with her B.A., she attended Yale University and earned her Juris Doctorate degree in 1989. During her time at Yale, Judge Suzanne Bolanos was elected to the law review.
Work Experience
Judge Suzanne Bolanos has worked as a counsel to the U.S. Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, specifically for Senator Kennedy. Her first position in the legal field was with the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund as a staff attorney. She has also worked with the law firm Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering.
She was a legal counsel to Vice President Gore, providing an advisory role in areas such as immigration, civil rights, and education. After this tenure, Judge Bolanos served as an Assistant United States Attorney starting in 1997 and ending in 2003.
Judge Balonos has received numerous awards, including being awarded Woman of the Year in 2004 by the National Latino Peace Officers Association. She has been recognized for her work in the minority legal community and is an active member of the Hispanic National Bar Association, the National Association of Women Judges and San Francisco La Raza Lawyers.
