- Finding A Judge
- Becoming A Judge
- Voting The Ballot
- Judges Handbook
- Judges Resources
The process of becoming an AIS judge and remaining a judge involves continual learning about irises and their judging. The AIS has many resources freely available to those interested in becoming an accredited judge and to those maintaining their judges creditials.
The Handbook
The Handbook for Judges and Show Officials is the reference that all judges and aspiring judges need to have.The latest version, updated in 2025, is edition 9.1. The handbook is available for purchase through the AIS Store, as a free downloadable pdf, or a flippable digital book. Click the links below to access any of these:
- Download edition 9.1 full pdf (340 pages)
- Purchase the Handbook from the AIS Store either as a full 9.1 edition or as a 25 page supplement to version 9.0
- Open a flippable digital version of the handbook (edition 9.1)
Recommendations for additions and edits to the Handbook are curated by the Judges Handbook Revision Committee (please refer to the standing committee section of leadership on this website for contact information.) Suggestions are due to the committee by September 30th annually.
Report Forms
The following PDFs are available to document judging activities.
Online Training Videos
The AIS provides free judges training videos through its YouTube channel. New material is added throughout the year.
Please be advised that while anyone can learn important information by watching these videos those desiring judges training credit must take the included exam for each video. [Click on the “Show More” link below each video in YouTube to access the test.]
AIS YouTube Channel JT Videos:
- #34. “Knowing and Growing Siberian Irises” presented by Dr. Robert Hollingworth, April 5, 2023.
- #31. “Judging Bearded Irises As Garden Plants” prsented by Stephanie Markham, February 15, 2023.
- #27. “Iris Color Patterns: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” presented by Jill Bonino, July 13, 2022.
- #25. “Awards and Ballots, Part 2 and Ethics” presented by Gary White and Bonnie Nichols, March 9, 2022.
- #24. “Awards and Ballots, Part 1” presented by Gary White and Bonnie Nichols, March 2, 2022.
- #16. “Tall Bearded Iris Today and Tomorrow” presented by Jill Bonino, June 9, 2021.
- #14. “Two Worlds – One Iris. A look at the Past, Present, and Future of the Siberian Iris” presented by Patrick Spence, May 5, 2021.
- #4. “Novely Irises: Space Agers” presented by Bonnie Nichols, August 12, 2020.
- #3. “Novelty Irises: Broken Color and Flatties” presented by Bonnie Nichols, August 5, 2020.