CA's First Openly Transgender Administrative Law Judge to be Sworn-In

San Francisco, CA - January 19, 2007 - Transgender Law Center Board Member and long-time civil rights advocate, Victoria Kolakowski, will be sworn in as the state's first openly transgender Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) today when she will be among eight new ALJs sworn-in by Angela K. Minkin, Chief Administrative Law Judge of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Despite many gains in transgender civil rights over the last five years, Victoria's selection as an ALJ for the CPUC will make her the only openly transgender judicial or quasi-judicial officer in the state.

"I am very honored to serve the people of California in this new role," said Kolakowski. "I hope that my appointment it is a small step toward the day when the selection or election of a transgender person to any position in state government is considered ordinary."

"Vicky is a valued member of the California Bar and the transgender community," said Christopher Daley, Director of the Transgender Law Center. "Her selection as an ALJ is an example of how transgender people can succeed in California when appointment or hiring decisions are made on the basis of merit. In addition to being a landmark event in the transgender civil rights movement, this is a great day for the state because Vicky is going to make a wonderful ALJ."

Kolakowski, 45, is a graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Law. She has practiced law as both a corporate and private attorney. She entered public service with the CPUC in 1999. She later served as Acting Assistant Chief Counsel of the California Electricity Oversight Board. Most recently, she served in a limited term position as an ALJ at the California Department of Insurance. She was a founding Board member and officer of the organization now known as Equality California and joined TLC's Board in 2006.


California Public Utilities Commission Investiture Ceremony

3:00 p.m.
Friday, January 19, 2007
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue, Hearing Room A


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Transgender Law Center (http://www.transgenderlawcenter.org) TLC is a civil rights organization advocating for transgender communities through direct legal services, education, community organizing, and policy and media advocacy. Thanks to support from the Women's Foundation of California, TLC and the San Francisco Bay Guardian recently released Good Jobs Now!, a report on the economic health of San Francisco's transgender communities. It is available for free at TLC's website.