February Letter from the Board
| On Tuesday December 1, 2026 the National Trans Bar Association will again be before the United States Supreme Court in Washington DC for our small group admissions ceremony. Representation matters. Having a group of transgender lawyers standing before the justices in the courtroom and being admitted to practice before them is one way that we remind them that we are professionals deserving of respect. Over the last 4 years the NTBA has sponsored 41 attorneys for membership in the United States Supreme Court bar. We are looking for transgender lawyers for our 2026 class, lawyers who want to help make a difference and make a statement that we are here and we will not disappear. The process for admission is not difficult but it does take some time and there are deadlines for submission. The ceremony is something that you will never forget. I was a member of the first class in 2022 and I will never forget the experience of arriving in front of the court with my fellow admittees. After going through security, we had an opportunity to take pictures on the main floor and look at the court historical exhibits that were on display. We were then escorted to our holding room where the anticipation and excitement built. After securing our belongings in the court provided lockers, our group was taken to the second floor where another security screening took place (you are only allowed to bring in a notepad and pen). I can remember the feelings of awe that came over me as we were escorted to our seats in the historic courtroom. It is truly an impressive courtroom with so much history having been made there. At 10:00 there is a buzzer and everyone stands as the justices come out from behind the red velvet curtains behind the bench and take their seats. The first order of business is the admission of new attorneys. There are usually a number of small groups and individual admissions that take place. I remember the feeling of pride that I felt when they announced “a group of attorneys from the National Trans Bar Association” and the Chief Justice recognizing Kristen Prata Browde who then moved for our admission into the Supreme Court Bar. One by one we stood as our names were read into the record. And then the Chief Justice granted the motion and ordered our admission into the ranks of lawyers who are allowed to practice before the court. After all of the group and individual motions were granted, we again stood and took the oath swearing to support the Constitution of the United States. I stayed for the argument that followed and was able to look all of the justices in the eye at least once during the argument and I actually got a smile from Amy Coney Barrett. It was a day that I will never forget. I have attended all of our admissions ceremonies and each time we have additional trans lawyers admitted to the Supreme Court Bar it brings a tear to my eye and a lump in my throat. It is an experience that you can share with a family member or friend because you are allowed to bring a guest with you. This year we are planning on adding a new component to our experience where we will have breakfast together at the court before we head to the courtroom. One of the biggest benefits of Supreme Court bar membership is the ability to gain admittance to oral arguments through a separate attorney line. You also receive an admission certificate that looks really good on your wall If you would like to be a part of this historic program, please review the qualifications & application process below. We look forward to seeing you at the Supreme Court this December. Qualifications & Application Process: To apply for the December 2026 admission, you must:Be an attorney admitted to practice in your home state for a minimum of three years. Be able to appear in Washington, D.C., in the early morning of December 1, 2026.Complete and return the application form by our deadline (anticipated to be in late summer 2026).Pay the one-time, lifetime Supreme Court Bar admission fee of $200. The NTBA is committed to ensuring financial need is not a barrier to participation. As in prior years, NTBA has paid the admission fee for those in financial need. For application details and updates, please contact Jessie McGrath at jessie.l.a.mcgrath@gmail.com. Apply now and help us continue to shape legal history. |
| Jessie McGrath NTBA Board of Directors |
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