LGBTQ+ Inclusion From the Bench: A Best Practices Guide for Judges is a collaborative effort by three organizations — the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges, the National Judicial College, and the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association and Foundation. This bench guide and its companion bench card are designed to serve as resources for judges seeking to build trust with the LGBTQ+ community and foster cultures of inclusivity and respect in their courtrooms. The Guide covers a wide array of topics relating to the LGBTQ+ community, including the basics (such as key terms) and more complex legal considerations (such as case management tactics that thoughtfully consider LGBTQ+ people and experiences).
Both the Guide and Card are intended to empower judges to interact mindfully and compassionately with LGBTQ+ people and their allies, ensuring that all participants in America’s court systems are treated with dignity and respect, and making justice accessible to all who seek it. In full recognition of and appreciation for judicial independence and expertise, the Guide and Card are designed to share skills, knowledge, and processes judges may choose to adopt and inform their work. Neither resource is designed to dictate how judges must run their courtroom or rule on matters involving LGBTQ+ individuals or issues.
Intended to be a broad guidance document spanning many diverse jurisdictions with differing laws impacting the lives, rights, and legal proceedings of LGBTQ+ people, the Guide does not include case law or statutory law related to LGBTQ+ issues. For jurisdiction-specific guidance on case law and statutory law impacting LGBTQ+ individuals, readers may reference local LGBTQ+ bench guides or reach out to their jurisdiction’s local LGBTQ+ bar association or bar section.
If readers have any suggestions for additional topics to cover in future editions of this comprehensive resource or any questions regarding the Guide or Card, please contact the National LGBTQ+ Bar’s Advocacy Counsel, Mari Nemec, at mari@lgbtqbar.org.
The LGBTQ+ Bar would like to thank the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges and the National Judicial College for their invaluable contributions to this project.
Download the Bench Card and Bench Guide
Readers are invited to download both the LGBTQ+ Inclusion From the Bench: A Best Practices Guide for Judges Bench Card and/or Bench Guide below. Please note that both documents will be updated regularly, so to utilize the most recent version readers are encouraged to return to this webpage periodically.
Please note that the downloadable Bench Card has .3″ margins on all sides. When printing the document, we recommend adjusting margins if needed and printing in landscape. The Bench Card should be compatible with most desktop printers.
Readers may download a PDF of the Guide using the button above or may view the Guide using the reader feature below.
Feedback Requested
The authoring organizations intend to regularly update both documents. For that reason, we invite you to share any feedback regarding (1) areas for improvement, (2) issues that judges would like guidance or updates regarding, (3) examples of common issues, or (4) suggestions for how to handle complex or nuanced issues in court.
Additionally, we invite you to please let us know if you have a story to share that illustrates the importance of a point made in the Guide or Card. You can do so using the feedback form below. It is possible that the LGBTQ+ Bar may request to include your story in a future edition of the Guide. No stories will be shared without prior approval.
Thank you so much for your feedback, which makes it possible for the authoring organizations to ensure the Guide and Card are as helpful and informative as possible.