John:

We are one week away from our upcoming event: Our Diversity on the Bench: New Voices, Better Society - have you registered for this free, virtual event yet? Mark your calendars and don't forget to grab your spot!

Co-hosted by Alliance for Justice, LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, the Black Leaders Caucus, and the Washington Bar Association, this event will be a discussion of the importance of having more Black LGBTQ+ judges on the bench to ensure justice for all. The panel will be moderated by AFJ President Rakim Brooks and Chair of the Black Leaders Caucus Justin L. Hill.

Thursday, June 8
3pm EDT
with Judge Darrin Gayles, Judge Staci Yandle
and Judge Jamar K. Walker

In 2014, President Barack Obama added much needed diversity to the federal courts by nominating Judge Staci Yandle to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of Illinois and Judge Darrin Gayles to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of Florida. Judge Gayles became the first Black out gay man to be a federal judge, and Judge Yandle became the second Black lesbian to become a federal judge in the United States.

Their appointments riveted many who had dreams of being a judge at the local, state, and federal level and helped many people reimagine who could receive a presidential appointment and Senate confirmation for the federal bench.

Slowly across our country, we have seen this trend continue and grow. In March 2023, Judge Jamar K. Walker, a President Biden judicial nominee, was sworn in as a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia. Judge Walker is the first out LGBTQ+ federal judge in Virginia and the second gay Black man in the Article III judiciary.

It is time to celebrate, reflect, and push forward. We hope you can join us on Thursday, June 8 at 3 PM EDT - register here!

Hope you can join us,

Elliot Imse
Pronouns: he|him|his
Executive Director, LGBTQ+ Victory Institute