Who appointed Otto Kerner Jr.?

President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Otto Kerner Jr. to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in 1968.

Was Otto Kerner Jr. appointed by a Democrat or a Republican?

Otto Kerner Jr. was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, a Democrat. JudicialFinder records the appointing president's party, not a judge's own politics.

What was Otto Kerner Jr.'s confirmation vote?

Otto Kerner Jr. was confirmed by voice vote on April 11, 1968. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.

Seventh Circuit / Appointed 1968 / Served to 1974

Otto Kerner Jr.

Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 and confirmed by voice vote, Otto Kerner Jr. was a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He earned a law degree from Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law) in 1934. Sources ↓

Lived: 1908–1976
Appointed by: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1968
Confirmed: by voice vote
Education: Brown 1930 · Northwestern Law (now Pritzker School of Law) 1934
Succeeded: Winfred George Knoch
Succeeded by: William Joseph Bauer

Federal judicial service

Year	Court	Appointed by	Vote
1968	Seventh Circuit succeeded Winfred George Knoch	L.B. Johnson (D)	Voice vote

Party letters show the appointing president’s party, not the judge’s own. A voice vote means the chamber approved aloud. No senator-by-senator tally is recorded.

Confirmation vote

Voice vote

The Senate approved this confirmation aloud, with no senator-by-senator tally recorded. Recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989.

Education

Brown University	A.B.	1930
Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law)	J.D.	1934

Before the bench

Professional career before and outside the federal bench, as recorded by the Federal Judicial Center.

Illinois National Guard (highest rank: major general)	1934-1941, 1946-1954
Private practice, Chicago, Illinois	1935-1942, 1946-1947
U.S. Army (highest rank: lieutenant colonel)	1941-1946
U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois	1947-1954
Judge, Illinois Circuit Court, Cook County	1954-1961
Governor, Illinois	1961-1968
Consultant, Special Services Center, Lewis University	1975-1976

Questions & answers

Who appointed Otto Kerner Jr.?: President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Otto Kerner Jr. to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in 1968.
Was Otto Kerner Jr. appointed by a Democrat or a Republican?: Otto Kerner Jr. was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, a Democrat. JudicialFinder records the appointing president's party, not a judge's own politics.
What was Otto Kerner Jr.'s confirmation vote?: Otto Kerner Jr. was confirmed by voice vote on April 11, 1968. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.
Which court was Otto Kerner Jr. on?: Otto Kerner Jr. was a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Sources

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6 years on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Data as of 2026-09-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).