First openly gay federal judge Deborah Batts, who was set to preside over Michael Avenatti’s trial on charges of stealing money from Stormy Daniels, is dead at age 72

United States District Judge Deborah Batts, the first openly gay member of the federal judiciary, has died at age 72, just three months before she was set to preside over Michael Avenatti’s embezzlement trial.

Batts passed away on Sunday. So far, her cause of death has not been made public.

‘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,’ Manhattan federal Chief Judge Colleen McMahon said in a statement.

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