The accredited judge is the backbone of The AIS judging program and is responsible for the selection of award winners. It is the judges’ votes that determine which irises receive awards and thus are recommended to the public. Serving as a judge is a privilege, and duties should be fulfilled with dedication. The judge is a representative of The American Iris Society and should conduct himself/herself in a manner which will bring credit to the organization.
The most visible aspects of being a judge are voting for how irises perform in the garden and determining the quality of iris blooms in iris shows. Supporting these judgements requires continued education and practical experience.
As judges’ actions touch so many of The AIS activities, this page provides an introduction for potential judges and everyone who needs to find judges. Judges and others will find links to some of the reference materials available.
Thank you to all our present and former judges! We continue to see the results of your service in all the incredible irises.
Finding Judges
Judges are needed as part of all Iris Shows (Iris Exhibitions). Every year the AIS Board approves the current list of accredited judges. The 2024 Judges List by Region was approved at the Fall 2023 Board Meeting.
Judges are also needed to provide judges training at local, regional, and national events. While the above list is helpful for this, the Iris Program Resources (Speakers) Chair can provide further guidance for specific topics and judges availability.
Judges Handbook, Reports, & Forms
The process of becoming an AIS judge and remaining a judge involves continual learning about irises and their judging.
The Handbook for Judges and Show Officials is the reference that all judges and aspiring judges need to have. Version 8.23 is available for order through the AIS Storefront or open an eVersion. You may download a pdf copy HERE. (please be patient large files may be slow to download.)
Find PDFs of the individual sections of chapters below:
Version # | Version Date | B&W Link | Color Link | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduction, Acknowledgements, & Table of Contents | 8.22 | Sep 2022 | N/A | Introduction v8.22 |
Section A - Judges and Judges' Training | ||||
Chapter 1: Accreditation of Judges | 8.22 | Sep 2022 | Chapter 1 v8.22 | N/A |
Chapter 2: Duties and Responsibilities of Judges | 8.22 | Sep 2022 | Chapter 2 Duties of Judges v8.22 | N/A |
Section B - Awards & Honors | ||||
Chapter 3: American Iris Society Awards & Honors | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Chapter 3 Awards v8.0 | Chapter 3 Awards v8.0 color |
Section C - The Iris Show (Exhibitions) | ||||
Chapter 4: Rules & Regulations of an Iris Show | 8.22 | Sep 2022 | Chapter 4 Iris Show v8.22 | N/A |
Chapter 4A: Virtual Show Organizing | 8.23 | Mar 2024 | Chapter 4A v8.23 | N/A |
Chapter 4B: Virtual Show Schedule | 8.23 | Mar 2024 | Chapter 4B v8.23 | |
Chapter 5: Selecting Best Specimen | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Ch 5 Best Specimen v8.0 | Chapter 5 Best Specimen v8 color |
Chapter 6: Organizing & Presenting an Iris Show | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Chapter 6 Organizing Iris Show v8.0 | Chapter 6 Organizing Iris Show v8 color |
Section D - Judging the Iris Classes: Bearded Irises | ||||
Chapter 7: Tall Bearded (TB) | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Chapter 7 TB v8.0 | Chapter 7 TB v8.0 color |
ESSAY: Comparison of BB, IB, and MTB Iris | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Essay: Comparing BB, IB, MTB v8.0 | Essay: Comparing BB, IB, MTB v8.0 |
Chapter 8: Border Bearded (BB) | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Chapter 8 BB v8.0 | Chapter 8 BB v8.0 color |
Chapter 9: Intermediate Bearded (IB) | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Chapter 9 IB v8.0 | Chapter 9 IB v8.0 color |
Chapter 10: Miniature Tall Bearded (MTB) | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Chapter 10 MTB v8.0 | Chapter 10 MTB v8.0 color |
Chapter 11: Standard Dwarf Bearded (STB) | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Chapter 11 SDB v8.0 | Chapter 11 SDB v8.0 color |
Chapter 12: Miniature Dwarf Beard (MDB) | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Chapter 12 MDB v8.0 | Chapter 12 MDB v8.0 color |
ESSAY: Terminology for Aril and Arilbred Iris | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Essay: Terminology for AR AB Iris v8.0 | |
Chapter 13: Aril and Arilbred | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | ||
SECTION E - Judging the Iris Classes: Beardless Iris | ||||
Chapter 14: Japanese (JI) | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Chapter 14 JI v8.0 | Chapter 14 JI v8.0 color |
Chapter 15: Louisiana (LA) | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Chapter 15 LA v8.0 | Chapter 15 LA v8.0 color |
Chapter 16: Pacific Coast (PCI) | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Chapter 16 PCI v8.0 | Chapter 16 PCI v8.0 color |
Chapter 17: Siberian (SIB) | 8.23 | Mar 2024 | Chapter 17 Siberians v8.23 | N/A |
Chapter 18: Species & Species Crosses (SPEC-X) | 8.23 | Mar 2024 | N/A | |
Chapter 19: Spuria (SPU) | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Chapter 19 SPU v8.0 | Chapter 19 Spuria v8.0 color |
SECTION F - Judging Other Iris | ||||
Chapter 20: Novelty & Space Age | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Chapter 20 Novelty Iris v8.0 | Chapter 20 Novelty v8.0 color |
Chapter 21: Reblooming | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Chapter 21 Reblooming v8.0 | Chapter 21 Reblooming v8.0 color |
Chapter 22: Historic | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Chapter 22 Historic v8.0 | Chapter 22 Historic v8.0 color |
Chapter 23: Bulbous | 8.23 | Mar 2024 | Ch 23 Bulbous v8.23 | |
Chapter 24: Collections | 8.22 | Sep 2022 | Chapter 24 Collections v8.22 | N/A |
Chapter 25: English Boxes | 8.22 | Sep 2022 | Chapter 25 English Boxes 8.22 | N/A |
Chapter 26: Container-Grown Iris | 8.22 | Sep 2022 | Chapter 26 Containers 8.22 | N/A |
Chapter 27: Artistic Design | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Chapter 27 Artistic Design v8.0 | Chapter 27 Artistic Design v8.0 color |
Chapter 28: Single Blossom Entry | 8.22 | Sep 2022 | Chapter 28 Single Blossom v8.22 | N/A |
APPENDICES | ||||
A. Model Show Schedule | 8.23 | Mar 2024 | Appendix A v8.23 | N/A |
B. Preparing Iris for Exhibition | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Appendix B v8.0 | N/A |
C. Practice Garden Point Scoring | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Appendix C v8.0 | N/A |
D. Practice Exhibition Point Scoring | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Appendix D v8.0 | N/A |
E. Judge's Activity Record | 8.00 | Jul 2021 | Appendix E v8.0 | N/A |
F. Ethics and Rules for Judges | 8.22 | Sep 2022 | Appendix F v8.22 | N/A |
G. Virtual Show Schedule Template | 8.23 | Mar 2024 | Appendix G v8.23 | |
PDFs of the following resources are available for Judges or students
The above forms come from the RVP Handbook which is available online.
You can learn more about the AIS Awards and the judges responsibilities in them. Draft ballots are available early in the year for judges and others study.
As irises continue to change, so does what the Judges Handbook needs to contain. There is currently a Judges Handbook Revision Committee with contact information on the Leadership page.
Training videos online
Note: Click on Show More below each video for the JT test’s links.
Recently added Judges Training Videos and Tests
Judges Training and AIS Webinar #34: (April 5 2023) Bob Hollingworth “Knowing and Growing Siberian Irises”
Judges Training and AIS Webinar #31: (February 15 2023) Stephanie Markham “Judging Bearded Irises as Garden Plants”
Judges Training and AIS Webinar #27: (July 13 2022) Jill Bonino “Iris Color Patterns: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCyFvBEcYuc
Judges Training and AIS Webinar #25: (March 9 2022) Gary White and Bonnie Nichols “Awards and Ballots (JT), Part 2 & Ethics”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QH7gmjhZ_g
Judges Training and AIS Webinar #24: (March 2 2022) Gary White and Bonnie Nichols “Awards and Ballots (JT)”
Previous Judges Training Videos and Tests
JT videos are only available via the links provided, otherwise they are not listed on the videos available to the public.
Judges Training and AIS Webinar #16: (06-09-2021) Jill Bonino “Tall Bearded Iris Today and Tomorrow”
Judges Training and AIS Webinar #14 (05-05-2021) Patrick Spence “Two Worlds – One Iris. A look at the Past, Present and Future of the Siberian Iris”
Judges Training and AIS Webinar #3 (08-05-2020) Bonnie Nichols on “Novelty Irises: Broken Color and Flatties.”
Judges Training and AIS Webinar #4 (08-12-2020) Bonnie Nichols on “Novelty Irises: Space Agers.”
Becoming a Judge
Path to Becoming an Accredited AIS Judge
Source: AIS Handbook for Judges and Show Officials
The following “Quick Start” guide to becoming an AIS Accredited Judge was prepared by request in Region 21 based on the AIS requirements. Some Regions have requirements in addition to the AIS requirements.
All AIS members are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about irises and, in their own time, to consider taking the step from Candidate to Apprentice.
Qualified judges are needed by every affiliate hosting an iris show.
Tips For Getting Started
- It is recommended that a log of all Judges Training be kept for personal records.
- When attending Judges Training outside of your home region, it is your responsibility to provide documentation to your home region RVP.
- Judges Training Year of Record runs August 01 through July 31
To Become a Candidate
Requirements: None
Time Limit: None
AIS Membership Requirement: None
Reporting Requirements: None
Educational and Guideline Resources:
- AIS Handbook for Judges and Show Officials, current edition. Available for purchase from AIS Storefront, or as free download in the AIS Encyclopedia.
- All approved, structured, classroom AIS Judges Training events
To Become an Apprentice Judge
Entry Requirements:
- 3 years continuous AIS membership at the time of application.
- Successful completion of at least two approved judges training session for a minimum of 10 hours.
- Application to Regional Judges Training Chair with written recommendations from five (5) accredited judges
To Become a Garden/Exhibition Judge
Time Limit: 3 Years to complete
AIS Membership Requirement: Continuous AIS membership
Reporting Requirements: Annual Activity Report, due August 1
Educational and Guideline Resources: Same as above
Training as an Apprentice Judge
- 10 hours of approved AIS Judges Training.
- Successfully complete AIS Awards and Balloting Judges Training session of at least 2-hours in length, taught by an accredited AIS Judge. If successfully completed as a candidate, can be counted toward Apprentice requirements but does not count as current judges training hours.
Required Tutored Activities
- In garden judging of blooming seedling or named cultivars on two (2) separate occasions, under tutorship of two (2) different fully accredited AIS judges. Each session must be for a minimum of two (2) hours and must be spent truly evaluating iris plants (e.g. vigor, stalk, branching, substance, durability, bud count, form).
- Exhibition training at two (2) different accredited shows, or simulated show conditions (must be pre-approved by RVP), under the tutorship of two (2) different fully accredited AIS judges, limited to listening to the evaluations being made by the judges and to learn from their deliberation and in no way participating in the judging, clerking or other related activities. However, the apprentice should have the opportunity to evaluate one or more specimens independent of judging and related official activities.
The above quick start comes from the Region 21 Bulletin 149, p 20-21 (2017).
The requirements for maintaining continued accreditation as an AIS judge can be found in Chapter 1 – of the current Handbook for Judges and Show Officials.