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Judicial Reform Seventh Circuit Judges
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Judges for the United States Court of Appeals: 7th Circuit
Diane Pamela Wood Chief Judge
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Nominated on March 31, 1995, to a seat vacated by William Joseph Bauer. Confirmed by the Senate on June 30, 1995, and received commission on June 30, 1995. Served as chief judge, 2013-present.
Education: University of Texas, B.A., 1971; University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1975
Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Irving Goldberg, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1975-1976; Law clerk, Hon. Harry Blackmun, Supreme Court of the United States, 1976-1977; Attorney-advisor, Office of the Legal Advisor, U.S. Department of State, 1977-1978; Private practice, Washington, D.C., 1978-1980; Assistant professor of law, Georgetown University, 1980-1981; Faculty, University of Chicago, 1981-1995; assistant professor, 1981-1988; professor, 1988-1995; associate dean, 1989-1992; Special assistant to the assistant attorney general, U.S. Department of Justice, 1985-1987; Deputy assistant attorney general for international, appellate, and policy, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 1993-1995
Ann Claire Williams
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Nominated by Ronald Reagan on March 13, 1985, to a new seat authorized by 98 Stat. 333. Confirmed by the Senate on April 3, 1985, and received commission on April 4, 1985. Service terminated on November 17, 1999, due to appointment to another judicial position. Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Nominated on August 5, 1999, to a seat vacated by Walter J. Cummings, Jr.. Confirmed by the Senate on November 10, 1999, and received commission on November 15, 1999.
Education: Wayne State University, B.S., 1970; University of Michigan, M.A., 1972; Notre Dame Law School, J.D., 1975
Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Robert A. Sprecher, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 1975-1976; Assistant U.S. attorney, Northern District of Illinois, 1976-1985; deputy chief, Criminal Receiving and Appellate Division, 1980-1983; chief, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, Northern Central Region, 1983-1985; Adjunct professor and lecturer, Northwestern University Law School, 1979-; Adjunct professor and lecturer, John Marshall Law School, 1979-
David Frank Hamilton
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana. Nominated by William J. Clinton on June 8, 1994, to a seat vacated by S. Hugh Dillin. Confirmed by the Senate on October 7, 1994, and received commission on October 11, 1994. Served as chief judge, 2008-2009. Service terminated on November 24, 2009, due to appointment to another judicial position. Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Nominated on March 17, 2009, to a seat vacated by Kenneth F. Ripple. Confirmed by the Senate on November 19, 2009, and received commission on November 23, 2009.
Education: Haverford College, B.A., 1979; Yale Law School, J.D., 1983
Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Richard Cudahy, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 1983-1984; Private practice, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1984-1989, 1991-1994; Counsel, Gov. Evan Bayh, Indiana, 1989-1991
Diane S. Sykes
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Nominated on November 14, 2003, to a seat vacated by John L. Coffey. Confirmed by the Senate on June 24, 2004, and received commission on July 1, 2004.
Education: Northwestern University, B.S., 1980; Marquette University Law School, J.D., 1984
Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Terence T. Evans, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1984-1985; Private practice, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1985-1992; Judge, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Milwaukee County, 1992-1999; Justice, Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1999-2004
Frank Hoover Easterbrook
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Nominated on February 25, 1985, to a new seat authorized by 98 Stat. 333. Confirmed by the Senate on April 3, 1985, and received commission on April 4, 1985. Served as chief judge, 2006-2013.
Education: Swarthmore College, B.A., 1970; University of Chicago Law School, J.D., 1973
Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Levin H. Campbell, U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 1973-1974; Assistant to the solicitor general, U.S. Department of Justice, 1974-1977; Deputy solicitor general, U.S. Department of Justice, 1978-1979; Principal employee, Lexecon, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1980-1985; Faculty, University of Chicago Law School, 1978-1985
Ilana Kara Diamond Rovner
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Nominated by Ronald Reagan on June 19, 1984, to a seat vacated by Joel Flaum. Confirmed by the Senate on September 12, 1984, and received commission on September 12, 1984. Service terminated on August 17, 1992, due to appointment to another judicial position. Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Nominated on July 2, 1992, to a seat vacated by Harlington Wood Jr.. Confirmed by the Senate on August 12, 1992, and received commission on August 17, 1992.
Education: Bryn Mawr College, A.B., 1960; Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., 1966
Professional Career: Legal researcher, Richard J. Phelan, Esq., Chicago, Illinois, 1971; Law clerk, Hon. James B. Parsons, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1972-1973; Assistant U.S. attorney, Northern District of Illinois, 1973-1977; deputy chief, Public Protection Unit, 1975-1976; chief, Public Protection Unit, 1976-1977; Deputy governor and legal counsel, Gov. James R. Thompson, Illinois, 1977-1984
Joel Martin Flaum
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Nominated by Gerald Ford on November 18, 1974, to a seat vacated by Philip W. Tone. Confirmed by the Senate on December 18, 1974, and received commission on December 20, 1974. Service terminated on June 1, 1983, due to appointment to another judicial position. Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Nominated on April 14, 1983, to a seat vacated by Robert Arthur Sprecher. Confirmed by the Senate on May 4, 1983, and received commission on May 5, 1983. Served as chief judge, 2000-2006.
Education: Union College, B.A., 1958; Northwestern University School of Law, J.D., 1963; Northwestern University School of Law, LL.M., 1964
Professional Career: U.S. Naval Reserve lieutenant commander, JAG Corps, 1981-1992; Private practice, Chicago, Illinois, 1964-1965; Assistant state's attorney, Cook County, Illinois, 1965-1969; Lecturer, Northwestern University School of Law, 1967-1969; Associate director, Police Legal Advisory Program, Northwestern University School of Law, 1967-1968; Assistant attorney general, State of Illinois, 1969-1972; first assistant attorney general, 1970-1972; First assistant U.S. attorney, Northern District of Illinois, 1972-1975
Michael Stephen Kanne
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana Nominated by Ronald Reagan on December 4, 1981, to a seat vacated by Phil M. McNagny. Confirmed by the Senate on February 8, 1982, and received commission on February 9, 1982. Service terminated on May 21, 1987, due to appointment to another judicial position. Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Nominated on February 2, 1987, to a seat vacated by Jesse Ernest Eschbach. Confirmed by the Senate on May 19, 1987, and received commission on May 20, 1987.
Education: Indiana University, B.S., 1962; Indiana University Maurer School of Law, J.D., 1968
Professional Career: U.S. Air Force lieutenant, 1962-1965; Private practice, Rensselaer, Indiana, 1968-1972; City attorney, Rensselaer, Indiana, 1972; Judge, Indiana Circuit Court, Thirtieth Judicial Circuit, 1972-1982; Lecturer, St. Joseph's College, 1976-1989; Lecturer, St. Frances College, 1990-1991
Richard Allen Posner
Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Nominated on October 27, 1981, to a seat vacated by Philip Willis Tone. Confirmed by the Senate on November 24, 1981, and received commission on December 1, 1981. Served as chief judge, 1993-2000.
Education: Yale College, A.B., 1959; Harvard Law School, LL.B., 1962
Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. William J. Brennan, Jr., Supreme Court of the United States, 1962-1963; Legal assistant to the commissioner, Federal Trade Commission, 1963-1965; Assistant to the solicitor general, U.S. Department of Justice, 1965-1967; General counsel, President's Task Force on Communications, 1967-1968; Associate professor, Stanford Law School, 1968-1969; Faculty, University of Chicago Law School, 1969-