We Interview Edwina Frances Martin, Esq.and Commissioner/ Public Administrator of Richmond County

Do you have a will? What about a Trust? We have an expert on why we should. Stay tuned. 

 

About Edwina

Edwina Frances Martin, Esq., is a public interest lawyer experienced in Litigation, Public Policy, Government Relations, Non-Profit Management, and Strategic Communications. She is the Commissioner, Public Administrator of Richmond County, responsible for the administration of estates of persons that have left no will, and where there is no qualified person(s) to administer the decedent’s estate. Duties of the position include providing for burial arrangements when no close relative is available to do so; protecting the decedent’s property from waste, loss, or theft; and locating persons entitled to inherit from the estate and ensuring that legal distributes receive their inheritance. 

Prior to her current appointment Ms. Martin served as Counsel and Deputy Chief of Staff for former NYC Councilwoman Debi Rose (49^th District); Director of Government Relations, Communications & Pro Bono for Legal Services NYC; and litigation associate with the law firms of Shearman & Sterling LLP, Herrick Feinstein LLP, and Van Lierop, Burns & Bassett LLP. She began her legal career serving as law clerk to the Hon. Lawrence W. Pierce in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. 

  

Ms. Martin volunteers extensively within her home community and the New York legal community. Her volunteer work includes the American Association of University Women (past New York State president; past Branch President; national board of directors (member));the Staten Island Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Chair, May Week Committee); the New York State Bar Association (Delegate, House of Delegates (13^th JD); the Staten Island Women’s Bar Association (past president; co-chair, Education/Title IX Committee); National Council of Negro Women/SI (Legislative Committee co-chair); Soroptimist International-Staten Island (Chair, Live Your Dream Award); Staten Island Meals on Wheels (board member); St. John’s Episcopal Church (member, Vestry); and, the Alice Austen House & Museum (member, Advisory Board). 

 

Ms. Martin graduated from New York University School of Law (Vanderbilt Medal, Arthur Garfield Hayes Civil Liberties Fellow, Convocation Speaker, and NAACP LDF Earl Warren Scholarship Fellow) and holds her B.A. in Art History from Williams College (Dean’s List, Art History Merit Award Winner). Ms. Martin lives in the West Brighton community of Staten Island with her partner Mickey Burns, where, in her spare time, she walks and bird watches in Clove Lakes Park.