Federal judge Charles P. Sifton has died at his Brooklyn home. His rulings paved the way for women to join the Fire Department and for Mayor Michael Bloomberg to seek a third term.

In 1992, Sifton found the United States illegally seized RU-486 abortion pills that a pregnant woman had bought in France. The Supreme Court reversed his decision. But the publicity helped build support for the drug's U.S. approval in 2000.

His son, New York Times restaurant critic Sam Sifton, says the judge died Monday. He was 74 and had lung disease.

Survivors also include his wife, artist Susan Rowland; sons Toby and John; and three grandchildren.

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Information from: The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com