William Joseph Bauer

Who is William Joseph Bauer?

William J. Bauer is a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago.

Judge Bauer was born in Chicago, Illinois before moving with his family to Elmhurst. After serving in the U.S. Army, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Elmhurst College, and a J.D. degree from DePaul University College of Law.

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..