List of LGBTQ state supreme court justices in the United States

Last updated

Below is a list of the names of openly LGBT persons who have served on the highest court of a state or territory in the United States.

Contents

The first state with an openly LGBT justice was Oregon, where Rives Kistler was named to the bench in 2003. [1] The first U.S. territory with an openly LGBT justice was Guam, where Benjamin Cruz was appointed in 1997. [2] As of October 2,2024, there are 11 openly LGBT state supreme court justices, serving in 9 states.

In U.S. states

Current

OrderStateCourtJusticeRefService as justiceAs chief justiceMandatory retirement
1Flag of Colorado.svg  Colorado Colorado Supreme Court Monica Márquez [3] 2010–present2024–present2041
2Flag of Hawaii.svg  Hawaii Supreme Court of Hawaii Sabrina McKenna [4] 2011–present2027
3Flag of Connecticut.svg  Connecticut Connecticut Supreme Court Andrew J. McDonald [5] 2013–present2024–present2036
4Flag of Washington.svg  Washington Washington Supreme Court Mary Yu [6] 2014–present2032
5Flag of Nevada.svg  Nevada Supreme Court of Nevada Lidia S. Stiglich [7] 2016–present2023–20242024
6Flag of New Mexico.svg  New Mexico New Mexico Supreme Court C. Shannon Bacon [8] 2019–present2022–20242026
7Flag of Washington.svg  Washington Washington Supreme Court Helen Whitener [9] 2020–present2039
8Flag of California.svg  California Supreme Court of California Martin Jenkins [10] 2020–present2034
9Flag of New York.svg  New York New York State Court of Appeals Anthony Cannataro [11] 2021–present2022–20232035
10Flag of California.svg  California Supreme Court of California Kelli Evans [12] 2023–present2026
11Flag of Massachusetts.svg  Massachusetts Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Gabrielle Wolohojian [13] 2024–present2030

Former

OrderStateCourtJusticeRefService as justice
1Flag of Oregon.svg  Oregon Oregon Supreme Court Rives Kistler [1] 2003–2018
2Flag of Oregon.svg  Oregon Oregon Supreme Court Virginia Linder [14] 2007–2016
3Flag of Massachusetts.svg  Massachusetts Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Barbara Lenk [15] 2011–2020
4Flag of New York.svg  New York New York State Court of Appeals Paul Feinman [16] 2017–2021
5Flag of Vermont.svg  Vermont Vermont Supreme Court Beth Robinson [17] 2011–2021
6Flag of Oregon.svg  Oregon Oregon Supreme Court Lynn Nakamoto [18] 2016–2021
7Flag of Massachusetts.svg  Massachusetts Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Elspeth B. Cypher [19] 2017–2024
8Flag of Minnesota.svg  Minnesota Minnesota Supreme Court Margaret Chutich [20] 2016–2024

In U.S. territories

OrderTerritoryCourtJusticeRefService as justiceAs chief justice
1Flag of Guam.svg  Guam Supreme Court of Guam Benjamin Cruz [2] 1997–20011999–2001
2Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico Supreme Court of Puerto Rico Maite Oronoz Rodríguez [21] 2014–20162016–present

See also

Other topics of interest

References

  1. 1 2 "Amid debate over rights, number of gay judges rising". USA Today . October 17, 2006.
  2. 1 2 Silva, David (November 25, 1997). "Cruz Control: Newly Appointed Guam Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cruz May Be the Nation's Highest-Ranking Gay Judge". The Advocate . Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  3. "Ritter appoints Marquez to Colo. Supreme Court". KDVR . September 8, 2010. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011.
  4. Kobayashi, Ken (January 26, 2011). "McKenna is named to state's high court". Honolulu Star-Advertiser . Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  5. "County Fair: The Queering of Connecticut". Fairfield County Weekly. February 28, 2008. Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2008.
  6. Provenza, Nick (May 2, 2014). "Assistant Metro Editor". Seattle Times. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  7. Chereb, Sandra (March 9, 2017). "New Nevada Supreme Court justice has 'pursuit of justice' in her heart". Las Vegas Review-Journal . Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  8. Bolcer, Julie. "Lesbian Judge Wins Statewide Race". Advocate. Pride Media. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  9. La Corte, Rachel (April 13, 2020). "Judge G. Helen Whitener appointed to state Supreme Court". Seattle Times . Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  10. Dolan, Maura (November 10, 2020). "First openly gay justice confirmed to serve on the California Supreme Court". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  11. Clark, Dan (May 26, 2021). "Cuomo Announces Picks To Fill Two Seats on New York's Highest State Court". WSKG-TV . Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  12. Bajko, Matthew (January 2, 2023). "California Supreme Court welcomes 1st queer woman". Bay Area Reporter . Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  13. Leblanc, Steve (February 8, 2024). "Massachusetts governor nominates former romantic partner to state's highest court". Associated Press . Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  14. "Political Notebook: Bisexual, lesbian politicians stump in SF". Bay Area Reporter . November 22, 2007. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
  15. Goodnough, Abby (April 4, 2011). "Lesbian Judge Chosen for Top Massachusetts Court". New York Times . Archived from the original on April 11, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  16. McKinley, James (June 21, 2017). "First Openly Gay Judge Confirmed for New York's Highest Court". The New York Times . Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  17. "Vt. gov.'s high court nominee pushed civil unions, marriage law". Worcester Telegram & Gazette . October 21, 2011.
  18. Gay & Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest (GLAPN). "Openly LGBT elected in Oregon".
  19. "Newly Confirmed SJC Justice Cypher '80 to Speak at Emerson". Emerson News & Events. Emerson College. March 15, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  20. Bakst, Brian (January 22, 2016). "Dayton MN Supreme Court pick is court's first openly gay justice". MPR News. Minnesota Public Radio . Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  21. "Puerto Rico appoints first openly gay chief justice". Sun-Times National. February 23, 2016. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.