Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam—the first African-American woman to serve on New York state's highest court—was found dead April 12 in the Hudson River. She was 65.
The New York Police Department said that the medical examiner will determine the cause of death, and that the case is under investigation.
Lambda Legal issued a press release mourning Abdus-Salaam's passing. Associate Legal Director and Director of Constitutional Litigation Susan Sommar said, in part, "Judge Abdus-Salaam saw clearly how damaging it was to keep LGBT parents from their children. We owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude. She touched the lives of many New Yorkers; her legacy will live on."
