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18 ■ JUNE 14, 2021 NEWS

Robert Katzmann, Former Chief Judge of

2nd Circuit, Dies at 68

By Tom McParland

udge Robert A. Katzmann, the former chief
judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sec-
Jond Circuit who championed public education
about the federal judiciary and led the court through
the unparalleled COVID-19 crisis, died Wednesday
after battling a long illness.
He was 68 years old.
Katzmann, who joined the Manhattan-based ap-
peals court in 1999, served as chief judge from 2013
to 2020. A budget sequester and the pandemic book-
ended his tenure.
During his time on the court, Katzmann found-
ed the Second Circuit’s acclaimed civics education Robert A. Katzmann, former U.S. Court of Appeals
program, and took up the cause of improving legal for the Second Circuit chief judge (Photo by David
representation for the immigrant poor. A profes- Handschuh/NYLJ)
sor and author, he was the first judge on the federal Katzmann is survived by his wife, filmmaker Jen-
bench ever to hold both a law degree and a doctorate nifer Callahan, and his mother, Sylvia Katzmann,
in government. as well as his three siblings. His twin brother, Judge
‘Sure and steady’ Gary Katzmann, serves on the U.S. Court of Inter-
Chief Judge Debra Ann Livingston, who suc- national Trade.
ceeded him in September, Wednesday announced Katzmann was universally regarded as a brilliant
Katzmann’s death. jurist, with a deep commitment to justice, and a
The cause of death was not immediately clear. gentle demeanor that won him universal praise and
“Judge Katzmann led our court through historic admiration among his colleagues.
challenges, from budget sequester and governmen- T. Andrew Brown, the president of the New York
tal shutdowns, at the beginning of his tenure as chief, State Bar Association, remembered the “deep com-
to the pandemic which upended our court’s opera- passion he brought to every case that came before
tions only last spring,” Livingston said in a statement him during his many years of service to the Court of
posted to the Second Circuit website. Appeals for the Second Circuit.”
“Throughout it all, Judge Katzmann provided sure “As chief judge, he was a true leader, striving for
and steady leadership. And more than this, Judge the highest ideals in that unassuming manner that
Katzmann, with his commitment to civic education, brought no attention to himself,” Brown said. “While
also had a vision for the circuit—that the judiciary he commanded rapt attention from any audience as
might lend a steadying hand to our democracy by would any superstar, he made time for young law-
helping to educate the citizenry about the rule of law yers who wanted a word, students interested in civics
and the role of judges,” she said. “His quiet confi- education, universities seeking a professor and bar
dence, determination, exceptional leadership, and associations pursuing a speaker.”
strong sense of justice inspired us all. We will miss Benjamin Wittes, a senior fellow at the Brook-
him profoundly.” ings Institution, tweeted that Katzmann was an

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