Surrogate Cathryn M. Doyle graduated from Albany Law School on a full academic fellowship in June 1978. She was admitted to practice law in the State of New York and in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York in February 1979. Surrogate Doyle began her legal career as an Assistant County Attorney and Assistant District Attorney in Albany County before becoming Chief Law Clerk of Albany County Surrogate's Court where she served for more than 20 years.

As Chief Law Clerk of Albany County Surrogate's Court, Doyle was the highest ranking nonjudicial employee in the court. She was responsible to the Surrogate and the Office of Court Administration for managing all aspects of court operations and nonjudicial case processing activities. As Chief Law Clerk, Doyle served in a confidential capacity and supervised other Court personnel, allocated court resources, prepared annual budgets, made employee selection decisions, was responsible for the receipt, accounting and disbursement of court funds, and conducted legal research and writing at the request of the Surrogate.

In 2000, Doyle was elected Albany County Surrogate with endorsements of the Democrat, Conservative, Independence and Republican Parties. She took the bench in January 2001 and is cross assigned to the County and Family Courts of Albany, Greene, Rensselaer, Schoharie and Columbia County. In addition to her work as Surrogate, she was appointed an Acting Supreme Court Justice in 2003 and currently presides over Supreme Court trials, hearings and Mental Hygiene calendars.

Both during and prior to her tenure in public office, Surrogate Doyle has been involved in a number of community and professional organizations and boards. She is a former President of the Albany County Bar Association, and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Albany County Bar Association since 1999. In addition, she is a member of the New York State Bar Association, Trusts and Estates Section, serving on the Surrogate's Court Committee and the Continuing Legal Education Committee. She is a former Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Surrogate's Court Committee of the Trusts and Estates section, and a former member of the House of Delegates of the New York State Bar Association. Judge Doyle is also a Charter Member of the Capital District Women's Bar Association, the New York State Surrogate's Association, the New York State Association of Chief Clerks of the Surrogate's Court, the Estate Planning Council of Eastern New York and the New York State Archives Partnership Trust.

Throughout her career, Surrogate Doyle has been honored for her work on many civic and charitable boards.  She has been especially committed to the Center for disability Services where she has worked to support and uphold the rights of people with disabilities.  She has been a member of the Board of Directors for more than 20 years with three years as Board Chair, where she was responsible for overseeing operations of the Center’s thousands of clients and a budget of over $100,000,000.

Judge Doyle has served as an adjunct professor at Albany Law School and Maria College.  She frequently lectures at CLE seminars and Surrogate’s Association seminars.  Judge Doyle resides in Slingerlands with her husband Timothy Doyle and her three sons:  Patrick Sean and Liam.