Nancy J. Waples at a glance
- Current role
- Justice
- Court
- Supreme Court of Vermont
- Jurisdiction
- Vermont · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Nancy J. Waples
Justice · Supreme Court of Vermont
Available research
AI abuse cases
1 caseAI-related ruling · November 13, 2025
Richard LaRoche v. Darla Sterett (LaRoche)
- Court response
- Order to file order in all pending Vermont Superior Court cases where Counsel appears
Biography
Professional career
- Waples began her legal career as a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office under Robert Morgenthau, working in both the appeals and trial divisions. She later held the role of an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Vermont and as a criminal defense attorney in private practice. She also acted as the Criminal Justice Act Coordinator for the District of Vermont, liaising between federal courts and private attorneys for indigent clients.
- Private legal practice and Criminal Justice Act coordination.
- Assistant U.S. attorney, Vermont.
- Manhattan assistant district attorney.
Judicial service
- Justice, Supreme Court of Vermont; service 2022.
- Her appointment marked a historic milestone for Vermont’s judiciary, symbolizing broader access to justice and representation for minoritized individuals. She has been recognized with the Excellence in Public Leadership Award from St. John’s University School of Law (2026).
- Nancy J. Waples is the first person of color and the first woman of color to serve on the Vermont Supreme Court, appointed in 2022 by Governor Phil Scott and confirmed by the Vermont Senate.
- Vermont Superior Court Judge (2014–2022): Appointed by Governor Peter Shumlin to fill a vacancy, presiding over criminal, civil, juvenile, and family cases in nearly every Vermont county.
- Associate Justice, Vermont Supreme Court (2022–present): Appointed February 25, 2022, succeeding Justice Beth Robinson, who joined the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She is the 137th Justice and the first person of color on the court.
- Justice Waples co-chairs the Commission on Mental Health and the Courts and chairs the Court Operations Technology Committee. She serves on the Criminal Procedure Advisory Committee, Criminal Oversight Advisory Committee, and the Treatment Courts Executive Committee. She is also active in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Education
- William & Mary · B.A.
- St. John's University School of Law · J.D.
Courtroom rules and guidance
Digital Evidence Submission
Vermont Judiciary directs users to upload non-flat-PDF digital exhibits, including audio, video, and active hyperlinks, through its Digital Evidence Portal; flat PDFs should not be filed in that portal.
The Digital Evidence Portal is to be used solely for uploading exhibits in file formats other than flat PDF format. Examples ... include audio recordings, video recordings, or active hyperlinks to web-based content. Flat PDF files should not be filed in the Digital Evidence Portal.Vermont Judiciary Digital Evidence Portal ↗
Sources
Vermont General Assembly official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · checked August 22, 2026
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/JOURNAL/ja230328.pdfVermont Judiciary Digital Evidence Portal
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 27, 2026
https://evidence.vermontjudiciary.org/TraQ7/account/caseuserGovernor Phil Scott Appoints Nancy Waples to the Vermont Supreme Court | Office of Governor Phil Scott
Judge research source · HTML · checked October 4, 2026
https://governor.vermont.gov/press-release/governor-phil-scott-appoints-nancy-waples-vermont-supreme-court