LGBTQ+ Article III Judges
Article III of the Constitution created the U.S. Supreme Court and gave Congress the power to create the federal courts of appeals and district courts. Since 1789, more than 3,427 judges have served on Article III courts. Currently, there are 19 openly LGBTQ+ judges.
Court of Appeals
The 94 U.S. judicial districts are organized into 12 regional circuits, each of which has a United States Court of Appeals. This court hears appeals from the district courts located within its circuit and appeals from decisions of federal administrative agencies. In addition, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has nationwide jurisdiction to hear appeals in specialized cases, such as those involving patent laws and cases decided by the Court of International Trade and the Court of Federal Claims.
Judge | Court | Commission | Status | Gender |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rosemary Barkett | Eleventh Circuit | 4/15/1994 | Terminated/Retired 9/30/2013 | Female |
Todd Michael Hughes | Federal Circuit | 9/24/2013 | Active | Male |
Patrick Joseph Bumatay | Ninth Circuit | 12/12/2019 | Active | Male |
Beth Robinson | Second Circuit | 11/5/2021 | Active | Female |
Alison Nathan | Second Circuit | 3/30/2022 | Active | Female |
District Courts
The United States District Courts are the trial courts of the federal court system. Within limits set by Congress and the Constitution, the District Courts have jurisdiction to hear nearly all categories of federal cases, including both civil and criminal matters.
There are 94 federal district courts, including at least one district court in each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Three territories of the United States—the Virgin Islands, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands—have District Courts that hear federal cases, including bankruptcy cases.
Judge | Court | Commission | Status | Gender |
---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Walter Fitzgerald | California (CD) | 3/15/2012 | Active | Male |
Vaughn R. Walker | California (ND) | 11/27/1989 | Terminated/Retired 2/28/2011 | Male |
Charlotte Sweeney | Colorado | 7/18/2022 | Active | Female |
Daniel T.K. Hurley | Florida (SD) | 3/11/1994 | Senior Status 2/24/2009 | Male |
Darrin Phillip Gayles | Florida (SD) | 6/19/2014 | Active | Male |
Maureen Rowland | Illinois (ND) | 8/20/2019 | Active | Female |
Staci Michelle Yandle | Illinois (SD) | 6/19/2014 | Active | Female |
Judith Ellen Levy | Michigan (ED) | 3/14/2014 | Active | Female |
Nina Morrison | New York (ED) | 8/11/2022 | Active | Female |
Pamela K. Chen | New York (ED) | 3/5/2013 | Active | Female |
Alison Julie Nathan | New York (SD) | 10/17/2011 | Active | Female |
Deborah Batts | New York (SD) | 5/9/1994 | Terminated/Death 2/3/20 | Female |
James Paul Oetken | New York (SD) | 7/20/2011 | Active | Male |
Michael Jerome McShane | Oregon | 5/30/2013 | Active | Male |
Nitza I. Alejandro | Pennsylvania (ED) | 6/19/2013 | Active | Female |
Mark T. Pittman | Texas (ND) | 8/5/2019 | Active | Male |
Robert L. Pitman | Texas (WD) | 12/19/2014 | Active | Male |
Legend
CD - Central District | ED - Eastern District | MD - Middle District | ND - Northern District | SD - Southern District |
WD - Western District | ± LGBTQ+ | *** Current Chief Judge |
Data is based on information collected through May 7, 2020. To learn more about the federal courts go to www.fjc.gov.
Judge Deborah Batts
Deborah A. Batts, served for a quarter-century on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. She was sworn in on June 23, 1994, during Gay Pride Week by President Bill Clinton.
Active Article III Judges
Click below to view a complete list of Article III judges based on race, ethnicity or find out which president appointed them.
African-American | Asian-American & Pacific Islander |
Hispanic/Latinx | Native American |
Presidential Appointment |
United States Circuit Courts
First Circuit Second Circuit Third Circuit Fourth Circuit Fifth Circuit Sixth Circuit | Seventh Circuit Eighth Circuit Ninth Circuit Tenth Circuit Eleventh Circuit Fed/DC Circuit |
Supreme Court and USCIT
U.S. Supreme Court | U.S. Court of International Trade |