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.
 

JudgeCourtCommissionStatusGender
Rosemary BarkettEleventh Circuit4/15/1994Terminated/Retired
9/30/2013
Female
Todd Michael HughesFederal Circuit9/24/2013ActiveMale
Patrick Joseph BumatayNinth Circuit12/12/2019ActiveMale
Beth RobinsonSecond Circuit11/5/2021ActiveFemale
Alison NathanSecond Circuit3/30/2022ActiveFemale

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.
 

JudgeCourtCommissionStatusGender
Michael Walter FitzgeraldCalifornia (CD)3/15/2012ActiveMale
Vaughn R. WalkerCalifornia (ND)11/27/1989Terminated/Retired
2/28/2011
Male
Charlotte SweeneyColorado7/18/2022ActiveFemale
Daniel T.K. HurleyFlorida (SD)3/11/1994Senior Status
2/24/2009
Male
Darrin Phillip GaylesFlorida (SD)6/19/2014ActiveMale
Maureen RowlandIllinois (ND)8/20/2019ActiveFemale
Staci Michelle YandleIllinois (SD)6/19/2014ActiveFemale
Judith Ellen LevyMichigan (ED)3/14/2014ActiveFemale
Nina MorrisonNew York (ED)8/11/2022ActiveFemale
Pamela K. ChenNew York (ED)3/5/2013ActiveFemale
Alison Julie NathanNew York (SD)10/17/2011ActiveFemale
Deborah BattsNew York (SD)5/9/1994Terminated/Death
2/3/20
Female
James Paul OetkenNew York (SD)7/20/2011ActiveMale
Michael Jerome McShaneOregon5/30/2013ActiveMale
Nitza I. AlejandroPennsylvania (ED)6/19/2013ActiveFemale
Mark T. PittmanTexas (ND)8/5/2019ActiveMale
Robert L. PitmanTexas (WD)12/19/2014ActiveMale

Legend

CD - Central DistrictED - Eastern DistrictMD - Middle DistrictND - Northern DistrictSD - 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 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

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