Senate lawmakers have confirmed the nomination of Justice Beth Robinson to the Second US Circuit Court of Appeals.
This makes Robinson the first openly lesbian judge to serve on any federal district court, according to the White House.
As a judicial nominees of President Joe Biden, Robinson got a 51-45 vote in favor of her confirmation with four abstaining.
She received two votes from Republicans: Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Senator Susan Collins of Maine.
Beth Robinson congratulated for her confirmation
Her nomination was lauded by elected Vermont officials across both parties.
In a statement, Senator Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, said: “As an advocate, Beth Robinson has been rightfully hailed as a tireless champion for equal rights and equal justice.”
“But more importantly, her record as a Vermont Supreme Court Justice clearly demonstrates her fairness, impartiality, and loyalty to the rule of law, above all else,” Leahy said.
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, said: “She will make a great addition to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.”
Meanwhile, Senator Bernie Sanders said: “I know you will make Vermont proud and will be an excellent addition to the federal bench.”
Beth Robinson’s background in law and justice
Since 2011, Robinson had been an associate justice on the Vermont Supreme Court.
She also served as counsel to former Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin from 2010 to 2011 prior to her appointment to the state high court.
Working for Langrock Sperry & Wool from 1993 to 2010, she represented LGBTQ clients in several civil rights cases.
She is also recognized in her state for work as a pro bono lawyer to the plaintiffs in Baker v. State, which challenged Vermont’s prohibition on same-sex marriage.
As the succeeding landmark ruling legalized same-sex marriage in the state, this allowed Vermont to become one of the first states to enact a civil union law in the US.
She got her BA from Dartmouth College and her JD from the University of Chicago Law School. She clerked for a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
Seeking LGBTQ representation in the judiciary system
Lambda Legal, the LGBTQ civil rights organization, lauded Robinson’s confirmation as a significant milestone.
However, they said the LGBTQ community is ‘woefully underrepresented” in the federal judiciary.
Presently, 14 out of 870 federal judgeships are held by openly gay or lesbian judges. There has not been an openly bisexual or transgender judicial nominee.
Meanwhile, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, another Republican said that Robins has demonstrated a ‘“marked hostility towards religious liberty.”