06/02/2025
Deborah Anne Batts broke the lavender ceiling when she was confirmed as the nation’s first openly LGBTQIA+ federal judge. Judge Batts served as a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York for 26 years. Sworn in during Gay Pride Week in 1994, her representation paved the way for future LGBTQIA+ members of the judiciary.
Born in Philadelphia, Deborah Batts attended Radcliffe College for undergraduate studies and later graduated from Harvard Law School. She became the first Black faculty member and tenured professor at Fordham Law School. Encouraged to pursue a federal judgeship in the 1990s, she chose to be honest about her identity, and her bravery was rewarded with a unanimous Senate confirmation.
Judge Batts issued multiple influential decisions during her time on the bench. Most notably, she denied the City of New York’s motion to dismiss the civil lawsuit of the wrongly convicted Central Park Five. She also allowed those affected by toxins released after the September 11th attack to bring a civil suit against the Environmental Protection Agency.
It took 17 years before another LGBTQIA+ judge joined her ranks. Judge Batts passed away unexpectedly in 2020 while still serving but left behind a legacy that she defined. At the time of her confirmation, she remarked that she wanted to be known for being more than just “the gay judge”, as she was also African American, a former professor, and a mother. All these parts formed Deborah Batts into a more empathetic, informed, and successful role model, continuing to inspire judges, lawyers, and everyday Americans today.
