When the New York State Senate voted to confirm Seth Marnin \u201906 JD as a judge of the New York State Court of Claims in June, it was more than a personal and professional accomplishment. He is believed to be the first openly transgender male judge in the nation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is very important to me to be visible,\u201d Marnin says. \u201cIt’s no secret that transgender people are under attack all over the country. While I am grateful to live in a state with strong laws, these attacks take a toll on our community. And representation matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marnin grew up in Albany, N.Y., child of a father who was a city bus driver and a mother who transcribed for court reporters. Although he always wanted to be an attorney, he first earned a BA in Women\u2019s Studies and Sociology, an MA in Liberal Studies and completed his Ph.D. coursework in History in U.S. public policy and gender, all at the State University of New York at Albany.<\/p>\n
The final decision to attend law school came when Marnin was the director of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender resources at UConn Storrs. Working with advocates from around the country on marriage equality and on amending Connecticut\u2019s anti-discrimination and hate crime laws, Marnin realized something.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the majority of these advocates I admired had in common was a JD,\u201d he says. \u201cSo I decided to return to school and pursue my law degree.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marnin had been admitted to other law schools but chose UConn Law in part because of Karen DeMeola \u201996, who was then working in the Admissions Office.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving a woman of color and an out lesbian in that role made a big impression on me,\u201d he says. \u201cThis was 2003 and there were not so many other out queer people in public-facing leadership roles. She not only made a good case for why I should attend UConn Law, but her presence mattered. It told me that someone who is out can be successful here.\u201d (DeMeola \u201996 was recently sworn in as a judge of the Connecticut Superior Court.)<\/p>\n
Sitting in on Professor Jeremy Paul\u2019s class in Contracts helped seal the deal for UConn Law. Marnin remembers several current and former faculty members fondly, including Lewis Kurlantzick, Paul Chill and Eileen Silverstein, as well as adjunct professors Daniel Klau and Jim Robertson \u201974.<\/p>\n
A judicial internship with Judge Lois Tanzer \u201974 on the Connecticut Superior Court was an influential part of Marnin\u2019s legal education. \u201cIt was in my work with her where I realized how much I loved the law and what a privilege it is to see the law from the judge\u2019s perspective,\u201d he says. \u201cBut at the time, I could not imagine a pathway to the bench for a person like me. Until just a couple of years ago, it was unimaginable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moot court, a requirement for first-year students, was also a transformative experience. \u201cI was so intimidated by the requirement I almost considered not attending UConn Law,\u201d Marnin says. \u201cBut it turned out I was very good at it.\u201d<\/p>\n
After law school, Marnin practiced employment law at Outten & Golden LLP, an opportunity that arose in connection with a clinical experience in LGBT civil rights taught by Jamie Mills \u201997. Marnin later served as vice president for civil rights at the Anti-Defamation League before becoming director of training and education for the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action at Columbia University. He has also spoken nationally and internationally on LGBTQ issues, hate crime laws, discrimination, civil rights, religious liberty, the First Amendment and academic freedom.<\/p>\n