Posted on 02/04/2020 1:10:20 AM PST by Jaysin
NEW YORK — Deborah A. Batts, the nation’s first openly gay federal judge, has died. She was 72.
Batts was found dead on Monday, three months before she was set to preside over a trial of California lawyer Michael Avenatti on charges that he cheated porn star Stormy Daniels, a former client, of proceeds of a book deal. No cause of death was immediately released.
In June 1994, Batts was sworn in after a smooth confirmation process following her appointment to the bench by President Bill Clinton. During her confirmation proceedings, it was never mentioned that she was a lesbian.
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But, at that time, she told the New York Law Journal that she did not want to be known as the “gay judge.”
“I’m a mother, I’m an African American. I’m a lesbian,” she said.
“Deborah Batts was a trailblazer in every respect: an openly gay African-American woman who became a United States District Judge after a distinguished career as a federal prosecutor and law professor,” Chief Judge Colleen McMahon said in a statement. “It will be difficult to replace her. Our hearts are broken at her premature passing.”
McMahon said one of the judge’s greatest contributions to the court was her last, when she provided oversight to a unique program that enabled people convicted of crimes to earn reductions in their period of supervised release by participating in a special rehabilitative program under intense judicial supervision.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Absolutely! Our side NEVER uses the Blue Slips and their side ALWAYS does! Unless our side appoints a squishy ‘moderate’, the Leftists will always try to thwart EVERY Judicial Appointment by any Republican!
A few of my buddies back in the day had those. Great fun out in the snow.
As a kid, my dream machine.
[I liked Ramcharger best among these.]
It was a decent-looking vehicle, too
As was the original Ford Bronco
Nice
[Clinton giveth and Clinton taketh away.]
Oh my. I may have to use that elsewhere. Many times.
Although this isn’t a perfect fit, your comment made this song go through my head.
“He rode a blazing saddle...”
and
“There you will meet a man called ‘The Torch’ and members of the French Resistance” (not an exact quote but dfwgator knows the reference)
Now that's a much better spin!
Du Quois : This is Chevalier, Montage, Detente, Avant Garde, and Deja Vu.
Deja Vu : Haven’t we met before monsieur ?
Nick Rivers : I don’t think so.
I was expecting you to ask who I favored in the Virginia Slims tournament
Heh
I liked all the ones of that era, don’t forget the Cherokee Chief and Grand Wagoneer.
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