November 2022

Letter From the Co-Chairs

Dear Members,

We are on the verge of a historic achievement. On the morning of November 30, I will have the distinct honor of standing before the full bench of the United States Supreme Court on behalf of the National Trans Bar Association, to move the admission of the first ever group of openly transgender, gender non-conforming and gender variant attorneys into the Supreme Court Bar, the select group of attorneys who can argue cases before the Supreme Court.

This ceremony and its timing are significant. A core part of NTBA’s mission is fighting to advance equality under the law and blocking attempts to exclude TGNC litigants and attorneys. In this moment of tumult, where core civil rights are under threat, NTBA is ensuring that the members of our nation’s highest court are precisely aware that a strong, vibrant community of trans lawyers exist and that none of us will shy away from fighting against continued attempts to roll back protections guaranteed to all of us by the Constitution.  

I can’t help but wonder if Chief Justice John Roberts, who administered my oath 16 years ago, will take note that I look much different than I did back then, but that my legal skills, like those of the newly admitted members of our organization, are unchanged by my gender. 

It is my hope that our SCOTUS admission ceremony  will become an annual event, as we, by our presence alone, remind a Court that has lately seemed to forget precedents it finds inconvenient that equality includes those of us who are transgender. So I urge you to reach out if you want to be part of the next group of members to join the Supreme Court bar, or if you would like to join our Board of Directors, which is fully committed to this vital work.

We look forward to you joining us in protecting equality inside and outside our profession.

Warmest Regards,

Kristen Browde,

Chair For the NTBA Board