Jerry R. Birdwell is the former mayor of South Lake Tahoe, California and judge of Dallas County's 195th Judicial District Court. Birdwell was the first openly gay judge appointed in Texas.Tammye Nash, Birdwell, state's 1st gay judge, now mayor of S. Lake Tahoe , Dallas Voice (December 21, 2008).
Early life and education Birdwell received a B.A. from Baylor University and a J.D. from Baylor Law School.Jerry R. Birdwell - Lawyer Profile, Martindale.
Judicial service On May 22, 1992, Governor Ann Richards appointed Birdwell to be judge of Dallas County's 195th Judicial District Court.Historical List of Elected Officials Dallas County, 1846 - Present District Clerk's Office, Dallas County, Texas (February 2010). She claimed that his sexual orientation was not a factor in his appointment, but gay rights groups promoted his appointment as a historical milestone, while Republican politicians called it a "slap in the face" to voters. Birdwell took office on May 29, 1992, but was defeated for reelection later that year by John R. NelmsBuhrke, R. (1996). A Matter of Justice: Lesbians and Gay Men in Law Enforcement. United States: Taylor & Francis. after a homophobic campaign.Moran, Leslie J. "Judicial diversity and the challenge of sexuality: Some preliminary findings." Sydney L. Rev. 28 (2006): 565. Birdwell left office on December 31, 1992.
Political career In 2006, Birdwell began a four-year term on the city council of South Lake Tahoe, California. On December 9, 2008, Birdwell was elected to serve a one-year term as mayor of South Lake Tahoe.
See also List of LGBT jurists in the United States
References