On January 6, history was made when lesbian Justice Laurie M. Earl was sworn in as a judge for California's Third District Court of Appeal. She was first confirmed by California's Commission on Judicial Appointments before to be confirmed unanimously by the Senate. It's an invaluable step towards increasing diversity on the bench. She becomes the fifth openly LGBTQ person to serve on a state's court of appeals and the tenth woman on the Third District court bench.