Wheaton exhibit honors longtime DuPage judge

Judge William J. Bauer already has a judicial building bearing his name and a sculpture at the DuPage County complex in Wheaton.

Now a new exhibit at the William J. Bauer Judicial Office Facility Annex explains why the building's namesake is an icon in DuPage's legal community.

"We know what he did for our community," former county board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom said to the crowd of lawyers, judges and county leaders who attended Tuesday's dedication of the display. "But this building is going to stand after all of us are gone.

"What this display will do is let those who come after us - the visitors to this building - know who Bill Bauer was ... and hopefully serve as an example for other people who want to become involved in public service," Schillerstrom said.

During his career, Bauer has served stints as the DuPage state's attorney, a DuPage circuit judge, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, a federal district court judge, chief judge of the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and now a senior judge on that same court.

Bauer, 88, of Elmhurst, said the groundwork for his long career began in DuPage. "If I hadn't been here and laid the groundwork, I never would have been appointed U.S. attorney or district court judge or court of appeals judge."

He said being honored by the county means a great deal.

"I went to high school (and) college here, married a girl here," Bauer said. "I'm married to a girl from Wheaton now. My brother still lives in the county, and he was my law partner for a while.

"So the county contributed immensely to me," Bauer said, "and I contributed what I could to the county."

The exhibit, which was paid for with donations, is near the entrance to the judicial annex at 503 N. County Farm Road. It tells the story of Bauer's life with the help of newspaper clippings, photographs and mementos, including one of his judicial robes.

"I think it's wonderful," Bauer said. "It reminded me of things that I had almost forgotten; and I have good memory."

After getting his undergraduate degree from Elmhurst College and law degree from DePaul University, Bauer started his career as a DuPage assistant state's attorney in 1952.

He was elected DuPage state's attorney in 1958.

In 1964, he was elected 18th Judicial Circuit Court judge, where he served for six years before President Richard Nixon appointed him U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

Then in 1971, Bauer was appointed to become a federal judge for the Northern District of Illinois.

In 1974, President Gerald Ford nominated - and the Senate approved - Bauer as a judge in the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. He served as chief judge of the court from 1986 to 1993.

Bauer has been a senior judge since 1994.

DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin said it's fitting to recognize Bauer's contributions to DuPage's legal community. He said Bauer long has been called "the sage from DuPage."

"For more than half a century, Judge Bauer has been a source of sage wisdom for those who sought his counsel," Cronin said. "And believe me, many people have sought it and continue to seek his counsel."

Judge Edward Duncan Jr. said Bauer's legal and judicial accomplishments are exceeded only by his countless acts of kindness.

"Bill's career is conclusive evidence that Leo Durocher was wrong," Duncan said. "Nice guys don't finish last. They finish first."