Professor Sterling is a Pro Se Staff Attorney with the U.S. District Court, Western District of New York in Rochester. Prior to her employment with the District Court, Ms. Sterling practiced as a legal services attorney in programs throughout New York State and Alabama, holding positions to include Managing Attorney, Associate Director, and Director of Special Litigation and Projects.
She has substantial practice experience representing prisoners in civil rights litigation, with an emphasis on litigation for prisoners with mental illness. Significant impact litigation has included actions challenging the New York State disciplinary system and use of segregated confinement for prisoners with mental illness.
She is the 7th Judicial District Representative to the New York State Bar Association Criminal Justice Section Executive Committee.