AIS Accredited Judges

The American Iris Society (AIS) trains and accredits judges for garden judging and show bench judging

  • The most important responsibility of a judge is voting the annual AIS ballot for the AIS awards and medals.
  • To vote the ballot knowledgeably a judge must grow a selection of newer varieties.
  • He/she must grow many irises and also tour gardens to observe as many irises as possible. This takes a commitment of time and money.
  • Training occurs both in the classroom and in the garden.
Pat training judges in the garden
Cliff, Pat and Pat Judging the Best TBs
Trying to select the best

Apprentice Judges

  • Suzy Andrego, 
  • Candy Scott
  • Beth Schneider

Garden Exhibition Judges (Formerly Garden Judges)

  • Scarlett Ayres
  • Debra Bilberry
  • Eva Barry
  • Steve Kelly
  • Robin Kishbaugh
  • Jacqueline Pountney
  • Loui Reys

Emertus Judges

  • Patricia Randall

Comments, questions, suggestions? Please email Region23_Webmaster. Last Update: May 3, 2026

Master Judges

  • Pegi Blackwell-Smith
  • Henry Day
  • Howard Dash
  • Cindy H. Rivera
 

Retired Judges

  • Dr. Scott Jordan
  • Valerie White

AIS Accredited Judges from Region 23 can be found through the following link.:  AIS Judges List.  Only fully accredited judges may judge in an accredited show, or present a for-credit judges training course.  (A retired Judge may judge a show if asked, however, they must serve on a panel with at least one certified AIS judge.) If you wish to get in touch with any of these judges, please contact Patricia Randall (Judges Training Chair)

 The American Iris Society have also been providing judges training webinars with ZOOM on topics like novelties, species and space-age irises.  Tests are provided and the person taking the tests can send them to their region’s  judges chairman for credit.