Skip to content

Biography · Biography & Culture

Deborah Batts

1947–2020

United States

Source image for Deborah BattsLoading image…
Visit the source record ↗

Biography

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.

Sources & collection details

Wikipedia contributors — original record ↗

Black heritage reference ↗

Biography text · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Continue exploring Series 1

Explore all Series 1 cards →