WBA celebrates Pride Month by celebrating the LGBTQ+ members of our community.
The Honorable Deborah Israel is an Associate Judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Judge Israel was WBA president in the 2001-2002 bar year, and WBA Foundation president from 1996-1998.
Judge Israel served in private practice for nearly 30 years before joining the bench. During the majority of that time, she worked in large law firms where she also served in many firm management roles, including Chief Operating Partner of her last firm. In the course of her tenure, Judge Israel and her team received the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Award for litigation that resulted in the preservation of the Black Creek Site, now deemed a Native American historic site in New Jersey. Judge Israel advises: “Do Pro Bono. Find a way to serve. You’ll always be proud of your service.”
Judge Israel shared her philosophy on how she approaches her work: “I serve as a judge in our community. It’s a profound responsibility. Every day I try to bring every shred of skill and experience I have to the job. and every day I pray for wisdom. It’s a fantastic thing, to be in a profession and have a job that requires me to learn new things constantly – and that requires humility to do well. Every day I learn something new. What a revelation that on the very last day of my career, when that day comes, I will go out learning, the same way I came in.”
How did your community growing up shape who you are now?
This is such a broad question. Many of us—maybe most of us—have more than one community with which we identify. For example, I strongly identify with women attorneys and particularly with the Women’s Bar Association. The community of women I grew up with professionally in the WBA has had a deep and lasting impact on my career, and has enriched my life. Many of you are my closest friends, mentors, and allies. Being part of this community, here in the nation’s capital, has allowed me to have a front row seat to history. So many women “firsts” have come to share their wisdom with us: Attorney General Janet Reno, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Governor Ann Richards, and the list goes on. I know I am not doing it justice. But when I think of things that have shaped who I am now, being part of the WBA, and all the gifts I have received from its many mentors, ranks way up there.
I am also part of the LGBTQ community. I came of age (and came out) in the mid 1980’s. To put that in perspective, the mid ‘80’s was right in the teeth of the
HIV/AIDS crisis. I lost friends. I have never met anyone of that era who didn’t. There was a depth of soul and caring in our community that was profound. Whatever resilience and grit I may have, I owe to many examples from our community. There is nothing like watching someone act with courage to teach you how to be courageous.
What motivated you to enroll in law school?
I wanted to be a trial lawyer.
What advice would you give to an LGBTQ+ law student who aspires to be where you are now?
I do not presume to give you general advice. Things that worked for me might work for you, or they might not sit right with you. I will preface this “advice” by saying take what you like and leave the rest. To an aspiring LGBTQ+ student, I would say YOU DO YOU. Don’t worry about what everyone else thinks. Some people may self-select away from you if they are uncomfortable. So what? There are plenty of reasons someone might be uncomfortable with me. Maybe it’s because I am gay, or maybe it’s because I tend to be loud and too direct.
What does Pride Month mean to you personally, and why is it important to celebrate it?
Any opportunity to be joyful and supportive is reason enough to celebrate. But right now, in the face of some pretty tough language and hate speech directed towards LGBTQ+ individuals, it might be even more important to be visible for the younger generations – so they can see and feel that they are not alone.
Hon. Deb Israel at the 2022 Stars of the Bar event, with WBA & WBAF Past President Ellen Jakovic, and Judge Israel’s clerk, Juliette Singarella.
What progress or positive changes have you witnessed for the LGBTQ+ community in recent years?
I still see in our community the deep caring and resilience in the face of today’s challenges that I saw when I was younger. It keeps me hopeful.
What are your hopes or aspirations for the future of the LGBTQ+ community?
I would really wish that the youngest (and arguably the most vulnerable) in our community had (and felt) more safety and less fear.
What inspired you to join the WBA?
This one is easy. I didn’t even know about the WBA. I was a first-year associate at a big law firm and a senior associate of the firm, together with WBA past president, the Hon. Delissa Ridgway (then at Shaw Pittman), had me tag along with them to a WBA Community Projects Committee meeting. Who doesn’t love the Community Projects Committee?
What is the best advice you have received?
One of my mentors taught me that what other people think of me is generally none of my business. That advice has stood me in good stead. I keep my focus and energy on where I can make a difference. Make sure to join some extracurriculars you like and get some mentors.