David H. Coar

Who is David H. Coar?

David H. Coar is a former United States federal judge.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Coar received a B.A. from Syracuse University in 1964, a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1969, and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School in 1970. He was a U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant in 1965. and U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Sergeant from 1965 to 1971. He was a Legal intern, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, New York City from 1970 to 1971. Coar entered private practice in Mobile, Alabama from 1971 to 1972, then in Birmingham to 1974. He was an Associate professor and associate dean of the DePaul University College of Law from 1974 to 1979 and from 1982 to 1986. He was a U.S. Trustee, Northern District of Illinois from 1979 to 1982. He was a visiting professor of law at the College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe Law School in 1985. Coar served as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Illinois from 1986 to 1994.

On August 16, 1994, Coar was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois vacated by Ilana Diamond Rovner. Coar was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 6, 1994, and received his commission on October 7, 1994. He assumed senior status August 12, 2009 and retired December 31, 2010.