Victoria Kolakowski
| Victoria Kolakowski | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the Alameda County Superior Court | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2011 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Kolakowski[1] August 29, 1961 Queens, New York |
| Spouse(s) | Cynthia Laird |
| Alma mater | New College of Florida (B.A.) Paul M. Hebert Law Center (J.D.) Pacific School of Religion (M.Div) |
Victoria Kolakowski (born Michael Kolakowski on August 29, 1961, in Queens, New York)[2] is an American lawyer, and, since January 2011, judge of the Alameda County Superior Court.[3] Kolakowski is the first openly transgender person to serve as a trial judge in the United States.[3]
Early life and education
Kolakowski is the daughter of Martin and June Kolakowski of Staten Island, New York.[4] She is a graduate of Stuyvesant High School in New York City and the first person in her family to attend college. Kolakowski graduated from New College of Florida in Sarasota, Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Natural Sciences in 1982.[5][6]
She earned a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Tulane University in 1987 and a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from University of New Orleans in 1990.[7]
Kolakowski graduated from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a juris doctor in 1989 as Michael Kolakowski.[1] She began her transition during her last semester of law school.[1] Kolakowski underwent sex reassignment surgery in 1991.[8] Kolakowski had to sue to take the bar exam in Louisiana after coming out as transgender.[9]
In 1997, Kolakowski received a Master of Divinity degree from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California.[10]
Career
Before she was elected with 51% of the vote to her opponent's 48% on November 2, 2010, Kolakowski served as an administrative law judge with the California Public Utilities Commission for four years.[3][11]
She was co-chair of the Bay Area Transgender Law Association from 1996 to 2000. She has been a member of the National Association of Women Judges since 2006.[7]
Kolakowski is a Christian and an ordained minister in the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, a Protestant Christian denomination.[12][13][14]
Honors and awards
- Equality and Justice Award by Equality California in 2011
- Susan B. Anthony Award by the National Women's Political Caucus - Alameda North in 2011
- Unity Award by the Minority Bar Coalition in 2010
- Outstanding Woman of Berkeley by City of Berkeley, Commission on the Status of Women in 1995
- Woman of the Year by the East Bay Lesbian/Gay Democratic Club in 1994[7] (Kolakowski was president of the East Bay Lesbian/Gay Democratic Club)
- Named an individual community grand marshal for San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride in June 2011 [15]
- Named one of 31 Icons for LGBT History Month in October 2011.[16]
Personal life
Kolakowski married Cynthia Laird, news editor of the Bay Area Reporter, on June 16, 2008. Ron Dellums performed the ceremony.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://www.wafb.com/story/13525971/first-openly-transgender-elected-judge-went-to-law-school-at-lsu
- ↑ "Biography". Kolakowski for Judge campaign.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Knowles, David (January 5, 2011). "Victoria Kolakowski: 5 Facts About America's First Transgender Superior Court Judge". AOL News. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=3102
- ↑ http://cc.calbar.ca.gov/CommitteesCommissions/Special/CouncilonAccessandFairness/AchievingDiversity.aspx
- ↑ http://ncf.sobek.ufl.edu/NCFE001061/00001
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 http://www.avvo.com/attorneys/94607-ca-victoria-kolakowski-252203.html
- ↑ Sheridan, Michael (November 17, 2010). "California elects nation's first openly transgender judge, Victoria Kolakowski". Daily News. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
- ↑ http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=13519979
- ↑ http://www.psr.edu/2013-distinguished-alum-banquet-victoria-kolakowski-mdiv-1997
- ↑ Rosynsky, Paul T. (November 16, 2010). "Alameda County home to first transgender judge in nation". Silicon Valley Mercury News. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
- ↑ http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/revvicky/
- ↑ http://www.out.com/2012/04/25/power-list-victoria-kolakowski
- ↑ http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2008/06/qa_victoria_kolakowski.php
- ↑ "San Francisco Pride Individual Community Grand Marshals: Victoria Kolakowski". San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Celebration Committee. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
- ↑ "LGBT History Month(tm) Icon: Victoria Kolakowski". Equality Forum. Retrieved February 11, 2013.