William Joseph Bauer

William Bauer

Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
In office September 1986 – July 31, 1993
Preceded by	Walter Cummings
Succeeded by	Richard Posner
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
In office December 20, 1974 – October 31, 1994
Appointed by	Gerald Ford
Preceded by	Otto Kerner
Succeeded by	Diane Wood
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
In office September 14, 1971 – December 20, 1974
Appointed by	Richard Nixon
Preceded by	Joseph Perry
Succeeded by	Alfred Kirkland
Personal details
Born	(1926-09-15) September 15, 1926 (age 90) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater	Elmhurst College DePaul University

William Joseph Bauer (born September 15, 1926) is a Senior Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago.

Bauer was born in Chicago, Illinois before moving with his family to Elmhurst. After serving in the U.S. Army (1945–1947), he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Elmhurst College (1949), and a J.D. degree from DePaul University College of Law (1952). Early in his career, he served as an Assistant State's Attorney in DuPage County, Illinois, eventually becoming First Assistant State's Attorney, and then State's Attorney in 1959. He began his judicial career in 1964, on the Circuit Court for the 18th Judicial Circuit in DuPage County, from 1964 to 1970.

After serving for a year as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, he was nominated by President Richard Nixon on 14 September 1971 to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois which was being vacated by Joseph Samuel Perry. Bauer was confirmed by the United States Senate on 8 November 1971, and received his commission two days later. On 11 December 1974, Gerald Ford nominated Bauer to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit vacated by Otto Kerner, Jr.. Bauer was confirmed by the Senate on 19 December 1974, receiving his commission the following day. He served as chief judge from 1986 to 1993, and assumed senior status on 31 October 1994.