List of LGBT jurists in the United States

This is a list of openly LGBT Americans who are or were judges, magistrate judges, court commissioners, or administrative law judges in the United States and its federal district and territories. If known, it will be listed if a judge has served on multiple courts.

United States Circuit Courts of Appeals

#JudgeCircuitStateBegan active
service
Ended active
service
Ended senior
status
Reason for
termination
Appointed by
1Todd M. Hughes[1]FederalDCSeptember 24, 2013IncumbentObama
2Patrick J. Bumatay[2]NinthCADecember 12, 2019IncumbentTrump
3Beth Robinson[3]SecondVTNovember 5, 2021IncumbentBiden
4Alison Nathan[4]SecondNYMarch 30, 2022IncumbentBiden
5Nicole Berner[5]FourthMDMarch 19, 2024IncumbentBiden

United States District Courts

Article III Judges

#JudgeDistrictBegan active
service
Ended active
service
Ended senior
status
Reason for
termination
Appointed by
1Vaughn Walker[6]N.D.Cal.November 27, 1989February 28, 2011retirementG. H. W. Bush
2Deborah Batts[7]S.D.N.Y.May 9, 1994April 13, 2012February 3, 2020deathClinton
3Martin Jenkins[8]N.D.Cal.November 12, 1997April 3, 2008resignationClinton
4J. Paul Oetken[9]S.D.N.Y.July 20, 2011IncumbentObama
5Alison Nathan[4]S.D.N.Y.October 17, 2011March 31, 2022elevation to Second CircuitObama
6Michael W. Fitzgerald[10]C.D.Cal.March 15, 2012IncumbentObama
7Pamela K. Chen[11]E.D.N.Y.March 5, 2013IncumbentObama
8Michael J. McShane[12]D.Ore.May 30, 2013IncumbentObama
9Nitza Quiñones Alejandro[13]E.D.Pa.June 19, 2013IncumbentObama
10Judith E. Levy[14][15][16]E.D.Mich.March 14, 2014IncumbentObama
11Darrin P. Gayles[17]S.D.Fla.June 19, 2014IncumbentObama
12Staci M. Yandle[18]S.D.Ill.June 19, 2014IncumbentObama
13Robert L. Pitman[19]W.D.Tex.December 19, 2014IncumbentObama
14Mary M. Rowland[20]N.D.Ill.August 20, 2019IncumbentTrump
15Charlotte Sweeney[4]D.Colo.July 18, 2022IncumbentBiden
16Nina Morrison[4]E.D.N.Y.August 11, 2022IncumbentBiden
17Daniel Calabretta[21]E.D.Cal.February 21, 2023IncumbentBiden
18Ana C. Reyes[22]D.D.C.February 21, 2023IncumbentBiden
19Gina R. Méndez-Miró[23]D.P.R.February 24, 2023IncumbentBiden
20Jamar K. Walker[24]E.D.Va.March 3, 2023IncumbentBiden
21P. Casey Pitts[25]N.D. Cal.July 7, 2023IncumbentBiden
22Melissa R. DuBose[26]D.R.I.DesignateBiden

Magistrate Judges

JudgeCourt/agency and years of service (if known)State/territoryStatus
Ruben Brooks[27]United States District Court for the Southern District of California (1993–2016)Californiaretired
Allison Claire[28]United States District Court for the Eastern District of California (2012– )Californiaactive
Mary M. Rowland[20]United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (2012–2019)Illinoiselevation
Donna Ryu[29][30]United States District Court for the Northern District of California (2010– )Californiaactive

Specialty courts (Article I)

JudgeCourt/agency and years of service (if known)State/territoryStatus
Joseph H. Gale[31]United States Tax Court (1996–2011; 2011– )District of Columbiaactive
Emily C. Hewitt[32]United States Court of Federal Claims (1998–2013)Marylandterm ended
Elaine D. Kaplan[33]United States Court of Federal Claims (2013– )District of Columbiaactive

State supreme courts

JudgeCourt/agency and years of service (if known)State/territoryStatus
C. Shannon Bacon[34]New Mexico Supreme Court (2019– )New Mexicoactive
Anthony Cannataro[35]New York Court of Appeals (2021– )New Yorkactive
Margaret Chutich[36]Supreme Court of Minnesota (2016– )Minnesotaactive
Elspeth B. Cypher[37]Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (2017–2024)Massachusettsretired
Kelli Evans[38]Alameda County Superior Court (2021–2023); California Supreme Court (2023– )Californiaactive
Paul Feinman[39]New York Court of Appeals (2017–2021)New Yorkdeceased
Martin Jenkins[40][41]Alameda County Municipal Court (1989–1992); Alameda County Superior Court (1992–1997); United States District Court for the Northern District of California (1997–2008); California Courts of Appeal (2008–2019); Supreme Court of California (2020– )Californiaactive
Rives Kistler[42]Oregon Court of Appeals (1993–2003); Oregon Supreme Court (2003–2018)Oregonretired
Barbara Lenk[43]Massachusetts Superior Court (1993–1995); Massachusetts Appeals Court (1995–2011); Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (2011–2020)Massachusettsretired
Virginia Linder[44][45]Supreme Court of Oregon (2007–2016)Oregonretired
Monica Márquez[46]Supreme Court of Colorado (2010– )Coloradoactive
Andrew J. McDonald[47][48][49]Supreme Court of Connecticut (2013– )Connecticutactive
Sabrina McKenna[50]Supreme Court of Hawaii (2011– )Hawaiiactive
Lynn Nakamoto[51]Oregon Court of Appeals (2011–2016); Oregon Supreme Court (2016–2021)Oregonretired
Lidia S. Stiglich[52]Supreme Court of Nevada (2016– )Nevadaactive
Helen Whitener[53][54]Pierce County Superior Court (2015–2020); Washington Supreme Court (2020– )Washingtonactive
Mary Yu[55]Washington Supreme Court (2014– )Washingtonactive

Territorial supreme courts

JudgeCourt/agency and years of service (if known)State/territoryStatus
Benjamin Cruz[56]Supreme Court of Guam (1997–2001)Guamretired
Maite Oronoz Rodríguez[57]Supreme Court of Puerto Rico (2014– )Puerto Ricoactive

Other courts

JudgeCourt/agency and years of service (if known)State/territoryStatus
Charles Adams[58]Santa Clara County Superior Court (2018– )Californiaactive
Joel Agron[59]San Bernardino County Superior Court (2017– )Californiaactive
Ronald E. Albers[60]San Francisco County Superior Court (2009–2017)Californiaretired
Beth Allen[61]Fourth Judicial District Circuit Court (2013– )Oregonactive
Daniel Anders[62]Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas (2007– )Pennsylvaniaactive
Carolyn Archbold[63]29th District Court (resigned in 2003)Michigandeceased
John S. Arrowood[64]North Carolina Court of Appeals (2017– )North Carolinaactive
Jim Arth[65]Travis County District Court (2012– )Texasactive
Patricia C. Baca[66]346th District Court (2021– )Texasactive
Shawna S. Baker[67]Supreme Court of the Cherokee Nation (2020– )Oklahomaactive
Shannon Baldwin[68]Harris County Court (2019– )Texasactive
John Paul Barnich[69]Houston Municipal Court (1999–2007)Texasdeceased
Mary Ann Bearden[70]Lane County Circuit Court (1998–2012)Oregoninactive
Mary Bednar[71]New York City Family Court (1986–2015)New Yorkretired
Rachel Bell[72][73]Davidson County General Sessions Court (c. 2017)Tennesseeactive
Martha E. Bellinger[74]Los Angeles County Superior Court (2005–2011)Californiaretired
Jerry Birdwell[75]Dallas County's 195th Judicial District Court (1992)Texaslost reelection
Peter E. Borkon[76]Alameda County Superior Court (2022– )Californiaactive
Christopher W. Bowen[77]Contra Costa County Superior Court (2010– )Californiaactive
Tim Bradbury[78]King County Superior Court (1995)Washingtonlost reelection
Angela Bradstreet[79]San Francisco County Superior Court (2011–2022)Californiaretired
Brett Blomme[80]Milwaukee County Children's Court (2020–2021)Wisconsinsuspended
David J. Breen[81]Boston Municipal Court (2015– )Massachusettsactive
Daniel L. Brenner[82]Los Angeles County Superior Court (2012–2016)Californiadeceased
Karen Burstein[83]New York City Family Court (1990–1994)New Yorkresigned
Ann M. Butchart[84][85]Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas (2015– )Pennsylvaniaactive
Teresa Caffese[86]San Francisco County Superior Court (2017– )Californiaactive
Victor Carlson[87]Alaska Superior Court (retired 1995)Alaskaretired
Audrey Carrion[88]Eighth Circuit Court for Baltimore City (1999– )Marylandactive
Ronald Castorina[89]New York City Civil Court, Richmond County (2021); New York State Supreme Court, Richmond County (2022)New Yorkactive
Mary A. Celeste[90]Denver County Court (2000–2010)Coloradoretired
Roger Chan[91][92]San Francisco County Superior Court (2016– )Californiaactive
Ken Cheuvront[93]Encanto Justice Court (Justice of the Peace: 2019– )Arizonaactive
Thomas R. Chiola[94]Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County (1994–2009)Illinoisretired
Daniel J. Clifford[95][96]Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas (2015– )Pennsylvaniaactive
Jeffrey S. Cohen-Laurie[97]Los Angeles County Superior Court (2019– )Californiaactive
Linda Colfax[98]San Francisco County Superior Court (2010– )Californiaactive
Kimberly E. Colwell[99]Alameda County Superior Court (2012– )Californiaactive
Elena Condes[100]Alameda County Superior Court (2021– )Californiaactive
Christopher Costa[101][failed verification]Administrative Law Judge for the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings (2018– )District of Columbiaactive
Jason Cox[102]Harris County Court (2018– )Texasactive
Jake Cunningham[103]Oakland County Circuit Court (2019– )Michiganactive
John Dalton[104]Kane County Court (2012– )Illinoisactive
Amy Dawson[105]Fourth Judicial District (Hennepin County) District Court (2014– )Minnesotaactive
Jessica Delgado[106]Santa Clara County Superior Court (2021– )Californiaactive
Marisa Demeo[107]Superior Court of the District of Columbia (2010– )District of Columbiaactive
Susan J. De Witt[108]Los Angeles County Superior Court (2019– )Californiaactive
Mary Dolas[109]Fresno County Superior Court (2015– )Californiaactive
Herb Donaldson[110]San Francisco County Superior Court (1983–1999)Californiadeceased
Bonnie Dumanis[111]San Diego Municipal Court (1994–1998); San Diego County Superior Court (1998–2002)Californiaresigned
Angela D. Duncan[112]Gwinnett County Superior Court (2020– )Georgiaactive
Laurie Earl[113]Superior Court of Sacramento County; California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District (2022– )Californiaactive
Julie Emede[114]Santa Clara County Superior Court (2009– )Californiaactive
John Ehrlich[115]8th Subcircuit Court (2012– )Illinoisactive
Jim Evans[116]Harris County District Court (2017– )Texasactive
Richard Failla[117]New York City Criminal Court (1985–1993)New Yorkdeceased
Tara Flanagan[118]Alameda County Superior Court (2013– )Californiaactive
Abbe Fletman[85]Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas (2014– )Pennsylvaniaactive
Keith Kern Fong[119]Alameda County Superior Court (2021– )Californiaactive
Idee Fox[85]Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas (1995– )Pennsylvaniaactive
Shannon Frison[120]Boston Municipal Court (2009–2013); Superior Court of Massachusetts (2013– )Massachusettsactive
Phyllis Frye[121][122]City of Houston Municipal Courts (2010–2023)Texasretired
Sidney Galton[123]Multnomah County Circuit Court (1998–2005)Oregonleft office
Elizabeth A. Garry[71]New York State Supreme Court, Third Department (2009– )New Yorkactive
Shelley Gaylord[124][125]Dane County Circuit Court (2003–2020)Wisconsinretired
David Gernant[126]Multnomah County Circuit Court (1994–2006)Oregondeceased[127]
James GilbertUnited States Postal Service

(Chief Administrative Law Judge 2009 - )

District of Columbiaactive
Linda Giles[128]Boston Municipal Court (1991–1998); Massachusetts Superior Court (1998–2021)Massachusettsretired
Anthony Gipe[129]Kent Municipal Court (2019– )Washingtonactive
Don Gorton[130]Tax Counsel - Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1997–2008)Massachusettsretired
Alyson A. Grine[131]Judicial District 15B (2021– )North Carolinaactive
Stacy Hackenberg[132]Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 (2019– )Texasactive
Dean Hansell[133]Los Angeles County Superior Court (2016– )Californiaactive
Rebecca C. Hardie[134]Contra Costa County Superior Court (2010– )Californiaactive
Barbara Hartle[135]Houston Municipal Court (2006– )Texasactive
Vickie L. Henry[136]Massachusetts Appeals Court (2015– )Massachusettsactive
Paula Hepner[137]New York Family Court (1998–2012)New Yorkretired
Donna Hitchens[138]San Francisco County Superior Court (c. 1990–2010)Californiaretired
Rand Hoch[74]Judge of Compensation ClaimsFloridaretired
Cecilia Horan[139]Cook County Circuit Court (2017– )Illinoisactive
Jim Humes[140]First District Court of Appeal (2012– )Californiaactive
Mike Jacobs[141]DeKalb County Court (2015– )Georgiaactive
Jan R. Jurden[142][143]Delaware Superior Court (2001– )Delawareactive
Marcy Kahn[144]New York State Supreme Court (1994–2019)New Yorkretired
Jonathan Karesh[145]San Mateo County Superior CourtCaliforniaactive
Nancy J. Katz[146]Circuit Court of Cook County (1999–2017)Illinoisretired
Stuart Katz[74]Circuit Court of Cook CountyIllinoisretired
Steven Kirkland[147][148]Houston Municipal Courts (2001–2008); 215th Civil District Court of Harris County (2009–2012); 334th District Court in Harris County (2012–2020)Texaslost reelection
Carol Kuhnke[74]Washtenaw County Trial Court (2013– )Michiganactive
William G. Kocol[63]National Labor Relations Board (Administrative Law Judge: 1992–2013)District of Columbiadeceased
Barry David Kohn[149]Los Angeles County Superior Court (Commissioner: 2000–2011)Californiadeceased
Victoria Kolakowski[150]Alameda County Superior Court (2011– )Californiaactive
Jim Kovach[102]Harris County Court (2019– )Texasactive
Jerold Krieger[151]Los Angeles Municipal Court (1983–1988); Los Angeles County Superior Court (1998–2002)Californiadeceased
Robert F. Kumor Jr.[63][152]Springfield District Court (retired in 2009)Massachusettsdeceased
Stephen Lachs[153]Los Angeles County Superior Court (Commissioner: 1975-1979; Judge: 1979–1999)Californiaretired
Jonathon Lack[154][155]Alaska Superior Court (Family Court Master: 2007–2013); Thurston County Superior Court (Commissioner: 2013–2019); King County Superior Court (Commissioner: 2019– )Alaska; Washingtonactive
Luis A. Lavin[156]Second District Court of Appeal (2015– )Californiaactive
Mark Leban[157]Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court (2005– )Floridaactive
Robert W. Lee[158]Broward County Circuit Court (1997– )Floridaactive
Joan Lobis[71]New York County Supreme Court (2007–2020)New Yorkretired
Chris Mallios[85]Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas (2015– )Pennsylvaniaactive
Larnzell Martin Jr.[159]Prince George’s County, Maryland Circuit Court (1990–2016)Marylandretired
Cira Martinez[160]Bronx Family Court (c. 1992-1999)New Yorkdeceased
Mary Catherine Marubio[161]Cook County Circuit Court (2016– )Illinoisactive
Kevin M. McCarthy[162]Superior Court of the State of California, in and for the City and County of San Francisco (1997-2012)Californiaretired
Barbara McDermott[85]Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas (2011– )Pennsylvaniaactive
W. Kearse McGill[163]California State Bar Court (2016– )Californiaretired
Dermot Meagher[164][165][166]Boston Municipal Court (1989–2006)Massachusettsretired
Beau Miller[102]Harris County Court (2019– )Texasactive
Jodie Mooney[167]Lane County Circuit Court (2011–2019); Oregon Court of Appeals (2019– )Oregonactive
Lawrence E. Mooney[168]Missouri Court of Appeals (1998–2019)Missouriretired
Mary C. Morgan[169]San Francisco Municipal Court (1981-1993); San Francisco County Superior Court (2003– )Californiaactive
Albert J. Mrozik Jr.[74]Asbury Park Municipal CourtNew Jerseyretired
Andi Mudryk[170]Sacramento County Superior Court (2022– )Californiaactive
Tracey Nadzieja[171]Maricopa County Superior Court (Commissioner: 2018– )Arizonaactive
Camille Neider[172]Second District Court (2017– )Utahactive
George A.W. Northrup[173]Dane County Circuit Court (c. 1985–1997)Wisconsindeceased
Marco D. Nunez[174]Imperial County Superior Court (2016– )Californiaactive
T. "Tracey" Edward Page[175]Lake County Superior Court (1984–2000)Indianadeceased
Tiffany Palmer[176]Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia (2010– )Pennsylvaniaactive
Tonya Parker[177]116th Civil District Court (2010– )Texasactive
Sebastian Patti[178][179]First District Appellate Court (1995–2018)Illinoisretired
Cheryl A. Pellegrini[180]Marion County Circuit Court (2014– )Oregonactive
Sheryl Pethers[74]Circuit Court of Cook County (elected 2004)Illinoisretired
Rosemary Pfeiffer[145][181]San Mateo County Superior Court (ret. 2012)Californiaretired
Barbara Phelan[182]Sonoma County Superior Court (2018– )Californiaactive
Lynn Pickard[183][184]New Mexico Court of Appeals (1991)New Mexicoretired
William Pocan[185]Milwaukee County Circuit Court (2006– )Wisconsinactive
Jill Rose Quinn[186]Cook County Court (2020– )Illinoisactive
Joe Quinn[108]San Francisco County Superior Court (2015– )Californiaactive
Tom Reardon[76]Alameda County Superior Court (c. 1998– )Californiaactive
Judith Rice[187]Circuit Court of Cook County 7th sub-circuit (2014– )Illinoisactive
Randolf J. Rice[188]Santa Clara County Superior Court (appt. 2001)Californiadeceased
Ronald Richter[189]New York City Family Court (2009-2011; 2014-2015)New Yorkinactive
Rosalyn Richter[190]New York State Supreme Court, First Department (2009– )New Yorkactive
Paula Rosenstein[191]San Diego County Superior Court (2012– )Californiaactive
Kristin L. Rosi[192]California Department of Insurance (Administrative Law Judge)Californiaactive
David Rubin[193]San Diego County Superior Court (2006– )Californiaactive
Robert J. Sandoval[194]Los Angeles County Superior Court (2001–2006)Californiadeceased
Bentrish Satarzadeh[195]Alameda County Superior Court (Commissioner: 2018– )Californiaactive
Rand Schrader[196]Los Angeles Municipal Court (1980–1993)Californiadeceased
Karin S. Schwartz[97]Alameda County Superior Court (2019– )Californiaactive
Ernesto Scorsone[197]Fayette County Circuit Court (2008– )Kentuckyactive
Mark Scurti[198]District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City (2013– )Marylandactive
Rudolph "Rudy" Serra[199]36th District Court (2004-2007)Michiganterm ended
Victoria Sigler[200]Miami-Dade County Circuit Court (2000– )Floridaactive
Debra Silber[201]King County Supreme Court (2016– )New Yorkactive
Jerry Simoneaux[102]Harris County Court (2019– )Texasactive
Sarah M. Singleton[202]First Judicial District Court of New Mexico (2009–2017)New Mexicodeceased
Marsha G. Slough[203]Fourth District Court of Appeal (2015– )Californiaactive
Levander Smith Jr.[204]Cook County Circuit Court (2019– )Illinoisactive
Sandra Butler Smith[63]San Joaquin County Superior Court (retired c. 2002)Californiadeceased
Michael Sonberg[205]Criminal Court of the City of New York (1991–2017)New Yorkretired
Charles Spain[206]14th District Court (2018– )Texasactive
Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez[207]Bexar County Court (2018– )Texasactive
Matthew St. George[63][208]Los Angeles County Superior Court (Commissioner: 2009–2019)Californiadeceased
Fay Stetz-WatersLinn County Circuit Court (2017–2018)Oregonlost reelection
Therese M. Stewart[209]California Court of Appeal (2014– )Californiaactive
Dylan Sullivan[210]El Dorado County Superior Court (2014– )Californiaactive
Katherine Tennyson[211]Multnomah County Circuit Court (2002–2019)Oregonretired
William Thom[71][212]New York State CourtNew Yorkretired
William L. Thomas[213]Eleventh Judicial Circuit (2012– )Floridaactive
Tracy Thorne-Begland[214]Richmond Circuit Court (2013– )Virginiaactive
Maureen A. Tighe[215]United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California (2003– )Californiaactive
Matthew Titone[189]Richmond County Surrogate’s Court (2007– )New Yorkactive
Richard Tsai[216]New York City Civil Court (2017– )New Yorkactive
Margaret Walsh[71]Albany County Family Court, Third Department (2004– )New Yorkactive
Shane Vannatta[217][218]Fourth Judicial District of Montana (2019– )Montanaactive
Linda Vanzi[219]New Mexico Court of Appeals (2008–2020)New Mexicoretired
Ray Warren[220][221]Superior Court of North CarolinaNorth Carolinainactive
Joshua D. Wayser[222]Los Angeles County Superior Court (2015– )Californiaactive
William E. Weinberger[223]Los Angeles County Superior Court (2022– )Californiaactive
Halee F. Weinstein[224]District Court of Maryland (2002– )Marylandactive
E. Gregory Wells[225]Maryland Court of Special Appeals (2019– )Marylandactive
Michael Whitaker[226]Los Angeles County Superior Court (2014– )Californiaactive
Janice Wilson[227][228]Multnomah County Circuit Court (1994–2013)Oregonretired
Mary Wiseman[229]Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas (2007– )Ohioactive
G. Keith Wisot[230]Los Angeles County Superior Court (1981–1994)Californiadeceased
Gabrielle Wolohojian[231][disputed ]Massachusetts Appeals Court (2008– )Massachusettsactive
David Brett Woods[232]Denver District Juvenile Court (2009– )Coloradoactive
Jason Worth[63][233]Housing Court (Brooklyn Division)New Yorkdeceased
Ellen Yacknin[71]City Court of Rochester, Fourth Department (2002– )New Yorkactive
Gregory Yorgey-Girdy[85]Philadelphia Municipal Court (2021– )Pennsylvaniaactive
David Young[234]Circuit Court of Miami Dade County (2000–2007: Resigned to do TV show; 2016: Reelected to same judicial seat)Floridaactive
Amy Zanelli[235]Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas (2021– )Pennsylvaniaactive
Zeke Zeidler[236]Los Angeles County Superior Court (2004– )Californiaactive

See also

Other topics of interest

References