Often considered a pioneer in terms of its legislative approach to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights, Vermont made history yet again yesterday by swearing in a renowned marriage equality activist as the state's first openly gay Supreme Court justice.
Beth Robinson replaces Justice Denise Johnson, who is retiring, according to a press release. Robinson, 46, is a widely respected civil rights advocate who helped represent three couples in a landmark 1999 state Supreme Court decision that prompted the Legislature in 2000 to make Vermont the first state to offer marriage-like benefits to same-sex couples, the Associated Press reports. In addition, she worked actively to promote Vermont's marriage equality law, which passed in 2009.
Robinson noted: "I’m humbled by the confidence that Governor [Peter] Shumlin has placed in me, and deeply grateful both for the opportunity I’ve had to serve his administration these past 10 months, and for the chance to serve Vermont’s judiciary in the years to come.”
Watch Shumlin swearing Robinson in below:
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