Deborah Batts, First Openly Gay Judge on the Federal Bench, Dies at 72 Andy Towle February 3, 2020 Leave a Comment Deborah Batts, a U.S. District court judge for the Southern District of New York and the first openly gay judge on the federal bench, has died at 72. … [Read more...] about Deborah Batts, First Openly Gay Judge on the Federal Bench, Dies at 72