Seventh Circuit / Appointed 1974 / Served to 2025

William Joseph Bauer

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

Appointed by President Gerald Ford in 1974 and confirmed by voice vote, William Joseph Bauer was a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He earned a law degree from DePaul University College of Law in 1952. He previously served on the Northern District of Illinois.Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, December 19, 1974

Appointed by
Gerald Ford, 1974
Confirmed
by voice vote
Education
Elmhurst College 1949 · DePaul College of Law 1952
Succeeded by
Diane Pamela Wood
Federal judicial service
YearCourtAppointed byVote
1971Northern District of Illinois · succeeded Joseph Samuel PerryNixon (R)voice
1974Seventh Circuit · succeeded Otto Kerner Jr.Ford (R)voice

A per-senator roll-call isn’t shown for this confirmation. The Senate’s recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989; many confirmations (especially before then, and most to the lower courts) were by voice vote or unanimous consent.

Education
Elmhurst CollegeA.B.1949
DePaul University College of LawJ.D.1952
Sources

50 years on the Seventh Circuit. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).