COD names courtroom after Judge William J. Bauer

College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn has named the mock courtroom in the new Homeland Security Education Center after the Honorable William J. Bauer of the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

“The College selected Judge Bauer for this honor due to his stellar reputation within the legal profession,” said Sharon Mellor, associate vice president of Resource Development and executive director of the Foundation. “With nearly 46 years of service on the bench, including countless precedential decisions, Judge Bauer is an extremely qualified candidate for the dedication of this educational space.”

The William J. Bauer Mock Court Room at College of DuPage includes a witness stand, judge's chambers, a jury box and reconfigurable seating arrangements for prosecutors and defense attorneys. In addition, the room features a 140-seat auditorium that serves as a lecture hall to teach courtroom proceedings and other Criminal Justice and First Responder courses.

The new 66,000 square-foot Homeland Security Education Center at College of DuPage is a comprehensive, multi-jurisdictional training center that features a full-scale tactical village for force-on-force exercises, as well as forensics and cybercrimes labs. Approximately 7,600 individuals are expected to receive training through the HEC annually. The building houses the College's Criminal Justice and Fire Science/EMS programs, as well as the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy and the College of DuPage Police Department.

A former U.S. State's Attorney in DuPage County, Judge Bauer distinguished himself early in his career through his demonstrated ability to recruit and his willingness to guide superb young legal talent. He was elected Judge of the Circuit Court for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and then appointed Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. On Dec. 11, 1974, Gerald R. Ford appointed Judge Bauer to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He served as chief judge from 1986 to 1993, and still maintains an active caseload.

The College of DuPage Foundation is offering an opportunity for area firms to support the training of future legal personnel through a donation of $500. Firm names and individual contributors will be featured on the front wall of the William J. Bauer Mock Court Room.

For more information, call the College of DuPage Foundation at (630) 942-4476.