Gwinnett County's First Openly Gay Superior Court Judge Sworn In

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - Gwinnett's first openly gay Superior Court Judge was sworn in at the capital Thursday.

Angela D. Duncan's seat on the bench is a newly created position that was established by the Georgia General Assembly last year. She joins the bench as its 11th member.

Gov. Brian Kemp swore Duncan, 50, in as Gwinnett’s newest Superior Court judge at the state Capitol on Thursday afternoon.

Her wife, Michele Tainter, held the Bible that Duncan laid her hand upon as Kemp administered the oath of office. The couple’s sons Brody and Alex Tainter watched from the audience, alongside other family members, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.

When news of her appointment broke in November and the fact that Duncan would be the county’s first openly gay Superior Court judge was highlighted, the judge said a friend asked her what relevance her sexual orientation had to her qualifications.

“The reality is it doesn’t; however, it is extremely important that other people have an example to follow,” Duncan told the Post.

“I had examples like that. Ellen DeGeneres had the courage to come out. I have been open in Gwinnett County ... for my entire practice there, and it is a stronghold for the Republican Party, and I am proud to be a part of that community, and I have been accepted with open arms.

“So, why does it matter? It matters because there might be people similarly situated that don’t have the courage or maybe think ‘I can’t,’ so if I have an opportunity to be an example, then I am honored to have that opportunity.”

Duncan is the latest member of Gwinnett’s LGBTQ community to hold a high profile office, joining county Commissioner Ben Ku, state Rep. Sam Park, D-Lawrenceville, and Gwinnett Board of Education member Everton Blair among the county’s openly gay officials, the Post said.

Duncan's background includes service as an Army and Operation Desert Shield veteran, her work as a private practice attorney, her time as a municipal judge in multiple cities and her time as a Gwinnett County Magistrate Court judge.

“Judge Duncan clearly stood out (as a candidate for the position) because of her work ethic and her experience,” Kemp said during the swearing in ceremony. “She has some impeccable credentials and, quite honestly, the right expertise to serve the people of Gwinnett County.

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