Native women remain starkly underrepresented in the judiciary—yet their leadership is essential to building a justice system rooted in equity, lived experience and cultural understanding.
This essay is part of an ongoing Gender & Democracy series, presented in partnership with Groundswell Fund and Groundswell Action Fund, highlighting the work of Groundswell partners advancing inclusive democracy. You’ll find stories, reflections and accomplishments—told in their own words—by grassroots leaders, women of color, Indigenous women, and trans and gender-expansive people supported by Groundswell. By amplifying these voices—their solutions, communities, challenges and victories—our shared goal is to show how intersectional organizing strengthens democracy.
A robe and gavel are iconic symbols. When we think of the leaders who shape the fabric of our society, judges are among the first who come to mind. Their decision-making affects every aspect of our lives, from the fate of an individual jaywalker to the blocking of an executive order. Judges evoke an immediate sense of authority and power.
Yet, when most people picture a judge—someone shaping laws, setting legal precedents and upholding justice—who do they see? More often than not, a white man. That imagery, unfortunately, is too often reflective of the systemic inequities that exist and persist in the judicial system.
Advance Native Political Leadership is working to build a systemic approach to political power building in Native communities. As we aim to prioritize representational parity, we have found that there is a glaring disparity in judicial service, particularly for Native women. Through our research, we have identified at least 29 Native women currently serving on the bench—an alarmingly small percentage in a judicial system of approximately 30,000 to 35,000 judges nationwide. This stark disparity underscores a legacy of systemic exclusion and calls for urgent action.
Actions have consequences. The judiciary exercises extraordinary power. Judges interpret laws, uphold decisions and set legal precedents that can exacerbate systemic injustices—or work towards uprooting them. The effects of a homogenous judicial body diminish the true power of equity and representation in the entire system. Without Native representation in these roles, the judiciary lacks leaders with the lived experience necessary to fairly interpret laws that profoundly impact Native communities. Cultural competence is not optional—it’s essential for justice.
One viable pathway for change prioritizes an increase in Native women on the bench. These leaders bring a unique perspective to the courtroom, reflective of cultural wisdom, resilience, historical context and a grounding in community driven values. Their presence in judicial positions reframe the institutions of power that worked to exclude and diminish Native communities for hundreds of years.
In 2021, Judge Deborah Ann Begay was sworn in as Maricopa County’s Moon Valley Justice of the Peace in Phoenix, Ariz. Her presence on the bench is more than historic—it is deeply personal. Her journey to leadership reflects the very injustices she now works to dismantle.
At just 6 years old, the justice system separated Judge Begay from her family and placed her in an adoptive home, one year before the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) was enacted. As a Naakaii Dine’é woman born for Kinyaa’áanii who navigated living with a non-Native family, she openly shares her background because “that really is the beginning point of who I am and why I do the work that I do.”
Her experiences grounded her leadership and advocacy in kindness and compassion. Judge Begay’s identity as a member of multiple communities—including the veteran community, LGBTQ2S (Two Spirit) community, and parent community—allowed her to make decisions grounded in a holistic understanding of humanity and the choices people make. Her impact represents a major step in dismantling systems of oppression.
We have identified at least 29 Native women currently serving on the bench—an alarmingly small percentage in a judicial system of approximately 30,000 to 35,000 judges nationwide.
Another step in this transformation is as easy as a vote. In 2023, up to 80 percent of state trial judge races went uncontested. That means hundreds of judges—who decide cases that shape lives, communities, and legal precedents—were elected without any competition or voter scrutiny. In 2025, over 1,000 open judge seats are up for election in 13 states. Many of these seats are state trial court judges, who handle 99 percent of casework in this country. These seats represent decisions that impact thousands of individuals, businesses, families, and communities. Yet they garner little public attention and even less engagement, despite the fact that 90 percent of state trial judges are elected by voters.
In odd-year elections, it’s typical to see less than 25 percent voter turnout. The opportunity for equitable representation of Native women in judicial roles is immense. A pathway for transformation exists in the mobilization of citizens and community members, and it starts with increasing voter participation and turnout. These actions will have consequences. The outcomes include judicial systems that uphold the importance of diverse perspectives. It includes Native women becoming integral leaders in developing the future of justice. It includes creating a judiciary that truly represents the people it serves.
Supporting Native women as judicial candidates and amplifying their voices will transform the judicial system into one that reflects, acknowledges and prioritizes the complexities of Native American identities in this country. Native women have always been leaders. Now is the time to support and elect Native women to the bench—because true justice begins with true representation.
