List of LGBTQ judges in the United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of openly LGBTQ 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.
Federal
United States courts of appeals
| Name | Court | State | Start | End | Chief | Senior | Status | Appointer | Ref(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Todd Hughes | Federal | DC | September 24, 2013 | present | — | — | Active | Barack Obama | [1] | |
| Patrick Bumatay | Ninth | CA | December 12, 2019 | present | — | — | Active | Donald Trump | [2] | |
| Beth Robinson | Second | VT | November 5, 2021 | present | — | — | Active | Joe Biden | [3] | |
| Alison Nathan | Second | NY | March 30, 2022 | present | — | — | Active | [4] | ||
| Nicole Berner | Fourth | MD | March 19, 2024 | present | — | — | Active | [5] | ||
United States district courts
Article III judges
| Name | Court | Start | End | Chief | Senior | Status | Appointer | Ref(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaughn Walker | N.D. Cal. | November 27, 1989 | February 28, 2011 | 2004–2010 | — | Retired | George H. W. Bush | [6] | |
| Deborah Batts | S.D.N.Y. | May 9, 1994 | April 13, 2012 | — | 2012–2020 | Deceased | Bill Clinton | [7] | |
| Martin Jenkins | N.D. Cal. | November 12, 1997 | April 3, 2008 | — | — | Resigned | [8] | ||
| Paul Oetken | S.D.N.Y. | July 20, 2011 | present | — | — | Active | Barack Obama | [9] | |
| Alison Nathan | S.D.N.Y. | October 17, 2011 | March 31, 2022 | — | — | Elevated | [4] | ||
| Michael Fitzgerald | C.D. Cal. | March 15, 2012 | present | — | — | Active | [10] | ||
| Pamela Chen | E.D.N.Y. | March 5, 2013 | present | — | — | Active | [11] | ||
| Michael McShane | D. Ore. | May 30, 2013 | present | 2024–present | — | Active | [12] | ||
| Nitza Quiñones Alejandro | E.D. Pa. | June 19, 2013 | present | — | — | Active | [13] | ||
| Judith Levy | E.D. Mich. | March 14, 2014 | present | — | — | Active | [14][15][16] | ||
| Darrin Gayles | S.D. Fla. | June 19, 2014 | present | — | — | Active | [17] | ||
| Staci Yandle | S.D. Ill. | June 19, 2014 | present | 2026–present | — | Active | [18] | ||
| Robert Pitman | W.D. Tex. | December 19, 2014 | present | — | — | Active | [19] | ||
| Mary Rowland | N.D. Ill. | August 20, 2019 | present | — | — | Active | Donald Trump | [20] | |
| Charlotte Sweeney | D. Colo. | July 18, 2022 | present | — | — | Active | Joe Biden | [4] | |
| Nina Morrison | E.D.N.Y. | August 11, 2022 | present | — | — | Active | [4] | ||
| Daniel Calabretta | E.D. Cal. | February 21, 2023 | present | — | — | Active | [21] | ||
| Ana Reyes | D.D.C. | February 21, 2023 | present | — | — | Active | [22] | ||
| Gina Méndez-Miró | D.P.R. | February 24, 2023 | present | — | — | Active | [23] | ||
| Jamar Walker | E.D. Va. | March 3, 2023 | present | — | — | Active | [24] | ||
| Casey Pitts | N.D. Cal. | July 7, 2023 | present | — | — | Active | [25] | ||
| Mary Kay Costello | E.D. Pa. | September 19, 2024 | present | — | — | Active | [26] | ||
| Melissa DuBose | D.R.I. | January 2, 2025 | present | — | — | Active | [27] | ||
Magistrate judges
| Name | Court | Start | End | State/ Territory |
Status | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruben Brooks | S.D. Cal. | 1993 | 2016 | CA | Retired | [28] |
| Allison Claire | E.D. Cal. | 2012 | present | CA | Active | [29] |
| Mary Kay Costello | E.D. Pa. | 2024 | 2024 | PA | Elevated | [26] |
| Seth Eichenholtz | E.D. N.Y. | 2025 | present | NY | Active | [30] |
| Kailani Memmer | W.D. Va. | 2023 | present | VA | Active | [31] |
| Mary Rowland | N.D. Ill. | 2012 | 2019 | IL | Elevated | [20] |
| Donna Ryu | N.D. Cal. | 2010 | present | CA | Active | [32][33] |
| Matthew Sharbaugh | D. D.C. | 2024 | present | DC | Active | [34] |
Article I tribunals
Specialty courts
| Name | Court | Start | End | Chief | Senior | State/ Territory |
Status | Appointer | Ref(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Gale | Tax Court | 1996 | 2011 | — | — | DC | Retired | Bill Clinton | [35] | |
| 2011 | 2023 | — | 2023–2024 | Barack Obama | ||||||
| Emily Hewitt | Court of Federal Claims | 1998 | 2013 | 2009–2013 | — | MD | Term Expired | [36] | ||
| Elaine Kaplan | Court of Federal Claims | 2013 | present | 2021–2025 | — | DC | Active | [36] | ||
Agency judges
| Name | Court | Start | End | State/ Territory |
Status | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Gilbert | United States Postal Service | 2009 | present | DC | Active | |
| William Kocol | National Labor Relations Board | 1992 | 2013 | DC | Deceased | [37] |
| Maureen Tighe | Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California | 2003 | present | CA | Active | [38] |
State and Territorial
Supreme Courts
- Served as acting chief.
Appellate courts
Trial and other courts
| Name | Court | State/ Territory |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Adams[83] | Santa Clara County Superior Court (2018–present) | CA | Active |
| Joel Agron[84] | San Bernardino County Superior Court (2017–present) | CA | Active |
| Ronald E. Albers[85] | San Francisco County Superior Court (2009–2017) | CA | Retired |
| Beth Allen[86] | Fourth Judicial District Circuit Court (2013–present) | OR | Active |
| Daniel Anders[87] | Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas (2007–present) | PA | Active |
| Carolyn Archbold[37] | 29th District Court (resigned in 2003) | MI | Deceased |
| Jim Arth[88] | District Court of Travis County (associate) (2012–present) | TX | Active |
| Patricia C. Baca[89] | 346th District Court of El Paso County (2021–present) | TX | Active |
| Shawna S. Baker[90] | Supreme Court of the Cherokee Nation (2020–present) | OK | Active |
| Shannon Baldwin[91] | Harris County Criminal Court at Law 4 (2019–present) | TX | Active |
| John Paul Barnich[92] | Houston Municipal Courts (1999–2007) | TX | Deceased |
| Mary Ann Bearden[93] | Lane County Circuit Court (1998–2012) | OR | Inactive |
| Mary Bednar[66] | New York City Family Court (1986–2015) | NY | Retired |
| Rachel Bell[94][95] | Davidson County General Sessions Court (c. 2017) | TN | Active |
| Martha E. Bellinger[96] | Los Angeles County Superior Court (2005–2011) | CA | Retired |
| Jerry Birdwell[97] | 195th District Court of Dallas County (1992) | TX | Term Expired |
| Peter E. Borkon[98] | Alameda County Superior Court (2022–present) | CA | Active |
| Christopher W. Bowen[99] | Contra Costa County Superior Court (2010–present) | CA | Active |
| Tim Bradbury[100] | King County Superior Court (1995) | WA | Lost Reelection |
| Angela Bradstreet[101] | San Francisco County Superior Court (2011–2022) | CA | Retired |
| Brett Blomme[102] | Milwaukee County Children's Court (2020–2021) | WI | Suspended |
| David J. Breen[103] | Boston Municipal Court (2015–present) | MA | Active |
| Daniel L. Brenner[104] | Los Angeles County Superior Court (2012–2016) | CA | Deceased |
| Karen Burstein[105] | New York City Family Court (1990–1994) | NY | Resigned |
| Ann M. Butchart[106][107] | Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas (2015–present) | PA | Active |
| Teresa Caffese[108] | San Francisco County Superior Court (2017–present) | CA | Active |
| Victor Carlson[109] | Alaska Superior Court (retired 1995) | AK | Retired |
| Audrey Carrion[110] | Eighth Circuit Court for Baltimore City (1999–present) | MD | Active |
| Ronald Castorina[111] | New York City Civil Court, Richmond County (2021) New York State Supreme Court, Richmond County (2022) |
NY | Active |
| Mary A. Celeste[112] | Denver County Court (2000–2010) | CO | Retired |
| Roger Chan[113][114] | San Francisco County Superior Court (2016–present) | CA | Active |
| Ken Cheuvront[115] | Encanto Justice Court (Justice of the Peace: 2019–present) | AZ | Active |
| Thomas R. Chiola[116] | Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County (1994–2009) | IL | Retired |
| Daniel J. Clifford[117][118] | Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas (2015–present) | PA | Active |
| Jeffrey S. Cohen-Laurie[119] | Los Angeles County Superior Court (2019–present) | CA | Active |
| Linda Colfax[120] | San Francisco County Superior Court (2010–present) | CA | Active |
| Kimberly E. Colwell[121] | Alameda County Superior Court (2012–present) | CA | Active |
| Elena Condes[122] | Alameda County Superior Court (2021–present) | CA | Active |
| Christopher Costa[123] [failed verification] |
District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings (2018–present) | DC | Active |
| Jason Cox[124] | Harris County Probate Court No. 3 (2019–present) | TX | Active |
| Jake Cunningham[125] | Oakland County Circuit Court (2019–present) | MI | Active |
| John Dalton[126] | Kane County Court (2012–present) | IL | Active |
| Amy Dawson[127] | Fourth Judicial District (Hennepin County) District Court (2014–present) | MN | Active |
| Jessica Delgado[128] | Santa Clara County Superior Court (2021–present) | CA | Active |
| Marisa Demeo[129] | Superior Court of the District of Columbia (2010–present) | DC | Active |
| Susan J. De Witt[130] | Los Angeles County Superior Court (2019–present) | CA | Active |
| Mary Dolas[131] | Fresno County Superior Court (2015–present) | CA | Active |
| Herb Donaldson[132] | San Francisco County Superior Court (1983–1999) | CA | Deceased |
| Bonnie Dumanis[133] | San Diego Municipal Court (1994–1998) San Diego County Superior Court (1998–2002) |
CA | Resigned |
| Angela D. Duncan[134] | Gwinnett County Superior Court (2020–present) | GA | Active |
| Laurie Earl[65] | Superior Court of Sacramento County | CA | Active |
| Julie Emede[135] | Santa Clara County Superior Court (2009–present) | CA | Active |
| John Ehrlich[136] | 8th Subcircuit Court (2012–present) | IL | Active |
| Jim Evans[137] | District Court of Harris County (associate) (2017–present) | TX | Active |
| Kelli Evans[44] | Alameda County Superior Court (2021–2023) | CA | Elevated |
| Richard Failla[138] | New York City Criminal Court (1985–1993) | NY | Deceased |
| Tara Flanagan[139] | Alameda County Superior Court (2013–present) | CA | Active |
| Abbe Fletman[107] | Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas (2014–present) | PA | Active |
| Keith Kern Fong[140] | Alameda County Superior Court (2021–present) | CA | Active |
| Idee Fox[107] | Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas (1995–present) | PA | Active |
| Shannon Frison[141] | Boston Municipal Court (2009–2013) Superior Court of Massachusetts (2013–present) |
MA | Active |
| Phyllis Frye[142][143] | Houston Municipal Courts (2010–2023) | TX | Retired |
| Sidney Galton[144] | Multnomah County Circuit Court (1998–2005) | OR | Resigned |
| David B. Gass[67] | Maricopa County Superior Court (2009–2019) | AZ | Active |
| Shelley Gaylord[145][146] | Dane County Circuit Court (2003–2020) | WI | Retired |
| David Gernant[147] | Multnomah County Circuit Court (1994–2006) | OR | Deceased[148] |
| Linda Giles[149] | Boston Municipal Court (1991–1998) Massachusetts Superior Court (1998–2021) |
MA | Retired |
| Anthony Gipe[150] | Kent Municipal Court (2019–present) | WA | Active |
| Don Gorton[151] | Tax Counsel – Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1997–2008) | MA | Retired |
| Alyson A. Grine[152] | Judicial District 15B (2021–present) | NC | Active |
| Stacy Hackenberg[153] | Williamson County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 (2019–2022) | TX | Term Expired |
| Dean Hansell[154] | Los Angeles County Superior Court (2016–present) | CA | Active |
| Rebecca C. Hardie[155] | Contra Costa County Superior Court (2010–present) | CA | Active |
| Barbara E. Hartle[156] | Houston Municipal Courts (2006–2016) | TX | Retired |
| Paula Hepner[157] | New York Family Court (1998–2012) | NY | Retired |
| Donna Hitchens[158] | San Francisco County Superior Court (c. 1990–2010) | CA | Retired |
| Rand Hoch[96] | Judge of Compensation Claims | FL | Retired |
| Cecilia Horan[159] | Cook County Circuit Court (2017–present) | IL | Active |
| Mike Jacobs[160] | DeKalb County Court (2015–present) | GA | Active |
| Martin Jenkins[8] | Alameda County Municipal Court (1989–1992) Alameda County Superior Court (1992–1997) |
CA | Elevated |
| Jan R. Jurden[161][162] | Delaware Superior Court (2001–present) | DE | Active |
| Marcy Kahn[71] | New York State Supreme Court (1994–2016) | NY | Elevated |
| Jonathan Karesh[158] | San Mateo County Superior Court | CA | Active |
| Nancy J. Katz[163] | Circuit Court of Cook County (1999–2017) | IL | Retired |
| Stuart Katz[96] | Circuit Court of Cook County | IL | Retired |
| Steven E. Kirkland[164][165] | Houston Municipal Courts (2001–2008) 215th District Court of Harris County (2009–2012) 334th District Court of Harris County (2012–2020) |
TX | Term Expired |
| Carol Kuhnke[96] | Washtenaw County Trial Court (2013–present) | MI | Active |
| Barry David Kohn[166] | Los Angeles County Superior Court (Commissioner: 2000–2011) | CA | Deceased |
| Victoria Kolakowski[167] | Alameda County Superior Court (2011–present) | CA | Active |
| Jim Kovach[124] | Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 2 (2019–present) | TX | Active |
| Jerold Krieger[168] | Los Angeles Municipal Court (1983–1988) Los Angeles County Superior Court (1998–2002) |
CA | Deceased |
| Robert F. Kumor Jr.[37][169] | Springfield District Court (retired in 2009) | MA | Deceased |
| Stephen Lachs[170] | Los Angeles County Superior Court (Commissioner: 1975–1979, Judge: 1979–1999) |
CA | Retired |
| Jonathon Lack[171][172] | Alaska Superior Court (Family Court Master: 2007–2013) Thurston County Superior Court (Commissioner: 2013–2019) King County Superior Court (Commissioner: 2019–present) |
AK WA |
Active |
| Mark Leban[173] | Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court (2005–present) | FL | Active |
| Robert W. Lee[174] | Broward County Circuit Court (1997–present) | FL | Active |
| Barbara Lenk[47] | Massachusetts Superior Court (1993–1995) | MA | Elevated |
| Joan Lobis[66] | New York County Supreme Court (2007–2020) | NY | Retired |
| Seth M. Marnin[175] | New York State Court of Claims (2023–present) | NY | Active |
| Chris Mallios[107] | Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas (2015–present) | PA | Active |
| Larnzell Martin Jr.[176] | Prince George’s County, Maryland Circuit Court (1990–2016) | MD | Retired |
| Cira Martinez[177] | Bronx Family Court (c. 1992–1999) | NY | Deceased |
| Mary Catherine Marubio[178] | Cook County Circuit Court (2016–present) | IL | Active |
| Kevin M. McCarthy[179] | San Francisco County Superior Court (1997–2012) | CA | Retired |
| Barbara McDermott[107] | Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas (2011–present) | PA | Active |
| W. Kearse McGill[180] | California State Bar Court (2016–present) | CA | Retired |
| Dermot Meagher[181][182][183] | Boston Municipal Court (1989–2006) | MA | Retired |
| Beau Miller[124] | 190th District Court of Harris County (2019–present) | TX | Active |
| Jodie Mooney[73] | Lane County Circuit Court (2011–2019) | OR | Active |
| Mary C. Morgan[184] | San Francisco Municipal Court (1981–1993) San Francisco County Superior Court (2003–present) |
CA | Active |
| Albert J. Mrozik Jr.[96] | Asbury Park Municipal Court | NJ | Retired |
| Andi Mudryk[185] | Sacramento County Superior Court (2022–present) | CA | Active |
| Tracey Nadzieja[186] | Maricopa County Superior Court (Commissioner: 2018–present) | AZ | Active |
| Camille Neider[187] | Second District Court (2017–present) | UT | Active |
| George A.W. Northrup[188] | Dane County Circuit Court (c. 1985–1997) | WI | Deceased |
| Marco D. Nunez[189] | Imperial County Superior Court (2016–present) | CA | Active |
| Jon Jay Olafson[190][191] | 2nd Judicial District, Denver District Court (2023–present) | CO | Active |
| T. "Tracey" Edward Page[192] | Lake County Superior Court (1984–2000) | IN | Deceased |
| Tiffany Palmer[193] | Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia (2010–present) | PA | Active |
| Tonya Parker[194] | 116th District Court of Dallas County (2011–present) | TX | Active |
| Sebastian Patti[195][196] | First District Appellate Court (1995–2018) | IL | retired |
| Cheryl A. Pellegrini[197] | Marion County Circuit Court (2014–present) | OR | Active |
| Sheryl Pethers[96] | Circuit Court of Cook County (elected 2004) | IL | Retired |
| Rosemary Pfeiffer[158][198] | San Mateo County Superior Court (ret. 2012) | CA | Retired |
| Barbara Phelan[199] | Sonoma County Superior Court (2018–present) | CA | Active |
| William Pocan[200] | Milwaukee County Circuit Court (2006–present) | WI | Active |
| Jill Rose Quinn[201] | Cook County Court (2020–present) | IL | Active |
| Joe Quinn[130] | San Francisco County Superior Court (2015–present) | CA | Active |
| Tom Reardon[98] | Alameda County Superior Court (c. 1998–present) | CA | Active |
| Judith Rice[202] | Circuit Court of Cook County 7th sub-circuit (2014–present) | IL | Active |
| Randolf J. Rice[203] | Santa Clara County Superior Court (appt. 2001) | CA | Deceased |
| Ronald Richter[204] | New York City Family Court (2009–2011, 2014–2015) | NY | Inactive |
| Rosalyn Richter[75] | New York City Criminal Court (1990–1996) New York Supreme Court for the 1st Department |
NY | Elevated |
| Paula Rosenstein[205] | San Diego County Superior Court (2012–present) | CA | Active |
| Kristin L. Rosi[206] | California Department of Insurance (Administrative Law Judge) | CA | Active |
| David Rubin[207] | San Diego County Superior Court (2006–present) | CA | Active |
| Robert J. Sandoval[208] | Los Angeles County Superior Court (2001–2006) | CA | Deceased |
| Bentrish Satarzadeh[209] | Alameda County Superior Court (Commissioner: 2018–present) | CA | Active |
| Rand Schrader[210] | Los Angeles Municipal Court (1980–1993) | CA | Deceased |
| Karin S. Schwartz[119] | Alameda County Superior Court (2019–present) | CA | Active |
| Ernesto Scorsone[211] | Fayette County Circuit Court (2008–2021) | KY | Retired |
| Mark Scurti[212] | District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City (2013–present) | MD | Active |
| Rudolph "Rudy" Serra[213] | 36th District Court (2004–2007) | MI | Term Expired |
| Victoria Sigler[214] | Miami-Dade County Circuit Court (2000–present) | FL | Active |
| Debra Silber[215] | King County Supreme Court (2016–present) | NY | Active |
| Jerry Simoneaux[124] | Harris County Probate Court No. 1 (2019–present) | TX | Active |
| Sarah M. Singleton[216] | First Judicial District Court of New Mexico (2009–2017) | NM | Deceased |
| Levander Smith Jr.[217] | Cook County Circuit Court (2019–present) | IL | Active |
| Sandra Butler Smith[37] | San Joaquin County Superior Court (retired c. 2002) | CA | Deceased |
| Michael Sonberg[218] | Criminal Court of the City of New York (1991–2017) | NY | Retired |
| Charles A. Spain[79][219] | Houston Municipal Courts (2010–2018) | TX | Retired |
| Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez[220] | Bexar County Court at Law No. 13 (2018–2026) | TX | Resigned |
| Matthew St. George[37][221] | Los Angeles County Superior Court (Commissioner: 2009–2019) | CA | Deceased |
| Fay Stetz-Waters | Linn County Circuit Court (2017–2018) | OR | Lost Reelection |
| Dylan Sullivan[222] | El Dorado County Superior Court (2014–present) | CA | Active |
| Katherine Tennyson[223] | Multnomah County Circuit Court (2002–2019) | OR | Retired |
| William Thom[66][71] | New York State Court | NY | Retired |
| William L. Thomas[224] | Eleventh Judicial Circuit (2012–present) | FL | Active |
| Tracy Thorne-Begland[225] | Richmond Circuit Court (2013–present) | VA | Active |
| Matthew Titone[204] | Richmond County Surrogate’s Court (2007–present) | NY | Active |
| Richard Tsai[226] | New York City Civil Court (2017–present) | NY | Active |
| Margaret Walsh[66] | Albany County Family Court, Third Department (2004–present) | NY | Active |
| Shane Vannatta[227][228] | Fourth Judicial District of Montana (2019–present) | MT | Active |
| Javier Enrique Vargas [229][230][231] |
New York City Housing Court (2013-2015) New York Family Court (2015–2022) New York Court of Claims (2022–present) |
NY | Active |
| Ray Warren[232][233] | Superior Court of North Carolina | NC | Inactive |
| Joshua D. Wayser[234] | Los Angeles County Superior Court (2015–present) | CA | Active |
| William E. Weinberger[235] | Los Angeles County Superior Court (2022–present) | CA | Active |
| Halee F. Weinstein[236] | District Court of Maryland (2002–present) | MD | Active |
| Michael Whitaker[237] | Los Angeles County Superior Court (2014–present) | CA | Active |
| Helen Whitener[59] | Pierce County Superior Court (2015–2020) | WA | Elevated |
| Janice Wilson[238][223] | Multnomah County Circuit Court (1994–2013) | OR | Retired |
| Mary Wiseman[239] | Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas (2007–present) | OH | Active |
| G. Keith Wisot[240] | Los Angeles County Superior Court (1981–1994) | CA | Deceased |
| David Brett Woods[241] | Denver District Juvenile Court (2009–present) | CO | Active |
| Jason Worth[37][242] | Housing Court (Brooklyn Division) | NY | Deceased |
| Ellen Yacknin[66] | City Court of Rochester, Fourth Department (2002–present) | NY | Active |
| Gregory Yorgey-Girdy[107] | Philadelphia Municipal Court (2021–present) | PA | Active |
| David Young[243] | Circuit Court of Miami Dade County (2000–2007, 2016) | FL | Active |
| Amy Zanelli[244] | Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas (2021–present) | PA | Active |
| Zeke Zeidler[245] | Los Angeles County Superior Court (2004–present) | CA | Active |
| Anna Fletcher | Hope Municipal Court (2020–present) | NM | Active |
See also
- List of African-American jurists
- List of Asian American jurists
- List of first minority male lawyers and judges in the United States
- List of first women lawyers and judges in the United States
- List of Hispanic and Latino American jurists
- List of Jewish American jurists
- List of LGBTQ politicians in the United States
- List of LGBT state supreme court justices in the United States
- List of Native American jurists