Judges and Judiciary
Mar. 11, 2010
Sexual Orientation Singled Out for Scrutiny
Margaret Russell of Santa Clara University School of Law asks why it is important to have openly gay and lesbian judges.
By Margaret Russell
It is both newsworthy and valuable to have openly gay and lesbian judges but not because their presence will dictate any specific legal outcomes. Sexual orientation, like race, gender, and other categories of identity, is simply one facet of the human complexity of all individuals on the bench. The Hon. Deborah A. Batts, the first and only open lesbian on the federal bench, said of her historic appointment by President Bill Clinton in 1994: "I'm a mot...For only $95 a month (the price of 2 article purchases)
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