Bernard Martin Decker
Encyclopedia
Bernard Martin Decker was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Highland Park, Illinois
, Decker received an A.B.
from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
in 1926 and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School
in 1929. He was in private practice in Waukegan, Illinois
from 1929 to 1951. He was a law clerk
to judge on the Appellate Court of Illinois from 1944 to 1948. He was an Illinois circuit court from 1951 to 1962.
On December 12, 1962, Decker received a recess appointment
from President John F. Kennedy
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
created by 75 Stat. 80. Formally nominated on January 15, 1963. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on March 28, 1963, and received his commission on April 2, 1963. He assumed senior status
on April 2, 1980. Decker served in that capacity until his death, on November 3, 1993, in Chicago, Illinois.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Highland Park, Illinois
Highland Park, Illinois
Highland Park is a suburban municipality in Lake County, Illinois, United States, about north of downtown Chicago. As of 2009, the population is 33,492. Highland Park is one of several municipalities located on the North Shore of the Chicago Metropolitan Area.-Overview:Highland Park was founded...
, Decker received an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
in 1926 and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1929. He was in private practice in Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan is a city and county seat of Lake County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 87,901. The 2010 population was 89,078. It is the ninth-largest city in Illinois by population...
from 1929 to 1951. He was a law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
to judge on the Appellate Court of Illinois from 1944 to 1948. He was an Illinois circuit court from 1951 to 1962.
On December 12, 1962, Decker received a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is the trial-level court with jurisdiction over the northern counties of Illinois....
created by 75 Stat. 80. Formally nominated on January 15, 1963. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on March 28, 1963, and received his commission on April 2, 1963. He assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on April 2, 1980. Decker served in that capacity until his death, on November 3, 1993, in Chicago, Illinois.