List of LGBT state supreme court justices in the United States

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

The first state with a LGBT justice was Oregon, where Rives Kistler was named to the bench in 2003.[1] The first U.S. territory with a LGBT justice was Guam, where Benjamin Cruz was appointed in 1997.[2] As of December 31, 2021, there are 10 LGBT state supreme court justices, serving in 9 states.

In U.S. states

Current
OrderStateCourtJusticeRefService as justiceAs chief justice
1 ColoradoColorado Supreme CourtMonica Márquez[3]2010–present
2 HawaiiSupreme Court of HawaiiSabrina McKenna[4]2011–present
3 ConnecticutConnecticut Supreme CourtAndrew J. McDonald[5]2013–present
4 WashingtonWashington Supreme CourtMary Yu[6]2014–present
5 MinnesotaMinnesota Supreme CourtMargaret Chutich[7]2016–present
6 NevadaSupreme Court of NevadaLidia S. Stiglich[8]2016–present
7 MassachusettsMassachusetts Supreme Judicial CourtElspeth B. Cypher[9]2017–present
8 WashingtonWashington Supreme CourtHelen Whitener[10]2020–present
9 CaliforniaSupreme Court of CaliforniaMartin Jenkins[11]2020–present
10 New YorkNew York State Court of AppealsAnthony Cannataro[12]2021–present

Former
OrderStateCourtJusticeRefService as justiceAs chief justice
1 OregonOregon Supreme CourtRives Kistler[1]2003–2018
2 OregonOregon Supreme CourtVirginia Linder[13]2007–2016
3 MassachusettsMassachusetts Supreme Judicial CourtBarbara Lenk[14]2011–2020
4 New YorkNew York State Court of AppealsPaul Feinman[15]2017–2021
5 VermontVermont Supreme CourtBeth Robinson[16]2011–2021
6 OregonOregon Supreme CourtLynn Nakamoto[17]2016–2021

In U.S. territories
OrderTerritoryCourtJusticeRefService as justiceAs chief justice
1 GuamSupreme Court of GuamBenjamin Cruz[2]1997–20011999–2001
2 Puerto RicoSupreme Court of Puerto RicoMaite Oronoz Rodríguez[18]Since 2014Since 2016

See also

Other topics of interest

References
  1. "Amid debate over rights, number of gay judges rising". USA Today. October 17, 2006.
  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. 28 February 2008. Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2008.
  6. Provenza, Nick (2 May 2014). "Assistant Metro Editor". Seattle Times. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. "Newly Confirmed SJC Justice Cypher '80 to Speak at Emerson". Emerson News & Events. Emerson College. March 15, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  10. La Corte, Rachel (13 April 2020). "Judge G. Helen Whitener appointed to state Supreme Court". Seattle Times. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  11. Dolan, Maura (10 November 2020). "First openly gay justice confirmed to serve on the California Supreme Court". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  12. Clark, Dan (26 May 2021). "Cuomo Announces Picks To Fill Two Seats on New York's Highest State Court". WSKG-TV. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  13. "Political Notebook: Bisexual, lesbian politicians stump in SF". Bay Area Reporter. November 22, 2007. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
  14. Goodnough, Abby (April 4, 2011). "Lesbian Judge Chosen for Top Massachusetts Court". New York Times. Archived from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  15. McKinley, James (June 21, 2017). "First Openly Gay Judge Confirmed for New York's Highest Court". The New York Times. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  16. "Vt. gov.'s high court nominee pushed civil unions, marriage law". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. October 21, 2011.
  17. Gay & Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest (GLAPN). "Openly LGBT elected in Oregon".
  18. "Puerto Rico appoints first openly gay chief justice". Sun-Times National. 23 February 2016. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
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