Transgender Judges Remain Rare Despite Biden Diversity Push

Victoria Kolakowski became the nation’s first openly transgender elected judge in 2011, and is heartened when people seek her out as a mentor or say she inspired them to practice law.

“I want people to think that we can do this. This is why it’s hard for me to be silent,” said Kolakowski, who serves on the California Superior Court in Alameda County. “Because if I’m invisible, how can I be a role model, if nobody knows I exist, right?”

Chase Strangio will make history Wednesday as the first openly transgender lawyer to argue before the Supreme Court, but no ...