Deborah Anne Batts (April 13, 1947 – February 3, 2020) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. During Gay Pride Week in June 1994, Batts was sworn in as a United States district judge for Manhattan, becoming the nation's first openly LGBT federal judge. She took senior status on her 65th birthday, April 13, 2012.
Deborah A. Batts
New York Southern District Court
Born 1947 in Philadelphia, PA
Died 2020 in New York, NY
FJC ID: 120
- Gender
- Female
- Race
- African American
Prior employment
Associate professor of law · 1984–1994- Department of Investigation, New York CitySpecial associate counsel · 1990–1991
Assistant U.S. attorney · 1979–1984- Private practice, New York City1973–1979
- Law clerk , Hon. Lawrence Pierce · 1972–1973
- Corporation Counsel Trial Advocacy Program for the City of New York, 1988-1993 (intermittent)Faculty
Appointments
- 1994–2020 · Appointed by William J. Clinton (Democratic)Term ended: Death
Education
J.D. · 1972- Radcliffe CollegeA.B. · 1969