William J. Bauer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Senior Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit | |
| In office October 31, 1994 – December 15, 2025 | |
| Chief Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit | |
| In office September 1986 – July 31, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Walter J. Cummings Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Richard Posner |
| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit | |
| In office December 20, 1974 – October 31, 1994 | |
| Appointed by | Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | Otto Kerner Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Diane Wood |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois | |
| In office November 10, 1971 – January 3, 1975 | |
| Appointed by | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Joseph Sam Perry |
| Succeeded by | Alfred Younges Kirkland Sr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Joseph Bauer (1926-09-15)September 15, 1926 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | December 15, 2025(2025-12-15) (aged 99) |
| Spouse | |
| Education | Elmhurst College (AB) DePaul University (JD) |
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William Joseph Bauer (September 15, 1926 – December 15, 2025) was an American judge who was aseniorcircuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit inChicago from 1974 until his death, having been nominated to the position by PresidentGerald Ford. He previously was aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois from 1971 until 1975, having been nominated by PresidentRichard Nixon. He was known for presiding over theAmoco Cadiz oil spill case.[1]
William Joseph Bauer was born on September 15, 1926, inChicago, Illinois.[1] He served in theUnited States Army from 1945 to 1947.[1] He received anArtium Baccalaureus degree in 1949 fromElmhurst College and aJuris Doctor in 1952 fromDePaul University College of Law.[2]
Bauer served as an assistant state's attorney inDuPage County, Illinois, from 1952 to 1956, serving as first assistant state's attorney from 1956 to 1958 and serving as state's attorney from 1959 to 1964.[1] He was an instructor atElmhurst College from 1952 to 1959 and was in private practice in Illinois from 1953 to 1964.[2]
Bauer served as a Judge of theIllinois Circuit Court for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit from 1964 to 1970. He was theUnited States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois from 1970 to 1971.[2]
Bauer was nominated by PresidentRichard Nixon on September 14, 1971, to a seat on theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois vacated by JudgeJoseph Sam Perry. He was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on November 8, 1971, and received his commission on November 10, 1971.[1] His service terminated on January 3, 1975, due to elevation to the Seventh Circuit.[2]
Bauer was nominated by PresidentGerald Ford on December 11, 1974, to a seat on theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit vacated by JudgeOtto Kerner Jr. He was confirmed by the Senate on December 19, 1974, and received his commission on December 20, 1974. He served as Chief Judge from 1986 to 1993. His most famous decisions include theAmoco Cadiz oil spill case.[3]
He assumedsenior status on October 31, 1994. He was a Member of theJudicial Conference of the United States from 1987 to 1993.[2]
On April 19, 2018, Bauer wrote the majority opinion striking down Indiana's ban on abortion due to disability as unconstitutional. Bauer was joined byJoel Flaum, over the dissent ofDaniel Anthony Manion. This part was upheld inBox v. Planned Parenthood.[4]
On September 30, 2022, at the age of 96, Bauer transitioned to inactive senior status on the Court of Appeals.[5]
Bauer was inducted as a Laureate ofThe Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the Order of Lincoln (the state's highest honor) by theGovernor of Illinois in 2010 in the area of Government & Law.[6]
In 2013, Bauer married Patricia Spratt, an appellate litigator and a shareholder of the firm Shefsky & Froelich. She had previously clerked for Bauer in 1991 and 1992.[7] In 2015, theIllinois Supreme Court appointed Spratt to a vacant judgeship on the 7th subcircuit of theCook County Circuit Court.[8] She was elected to the judgeship in 2016, and wonretention in 2022.[9]
Bauer died inNorth Riverside, Illinois, on December 15, 2025, at the age of 99.[1]
Senior Circuit Judge William Bauer assumed inactive senior status on September 30, 2022.
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois 1971–1975 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit 1974–1994 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit 1986–1993 | Succeeded by |