Judges Series: Chief Judge Frank Easterbrook

*Seventh Circuit Bar Association website (for more video clips of Chief Judge Easterbrook, and other judges, click here)

Chief Judge Frank Easterbrook of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is one of the best known and most respected federal appellate judges. He has written and been written about extensively, e.g., here, here, here, here, and here-first page only, and given many speeches and presentations, e.g., here and here-at 29-34, 37-42 (17-43).

Chief Judge Easterbrook's career path as an appellate attorney, and now appellate judge, is enviable. Following graduation from the University of Chicago Law School, Easterbrook clerked for First Circuit Judge Levin Campbell and then joined the U.S. Solicitor General's Office, briefing and arguing cases before the Supreme Court for five years. After returning to Chicago Law, this time as a professor, Easterbrook was confirmed to the Seventh Circuit, serving there since 1985 and as its chief judge since 2006.

Also of note:

Born 1948 in Buffalo, NY and grew up there.

Defines himself as a textualist who has no interest in legislative intent (see video embedded above).

Identifies his legal interests as "antitrust law, criminal law and procedure, and other subjects involving implicit or explicit markets."

Recommends reading prose, as well as Strunk & White's The Elements of Style and Bryan Garner's The Elements of Legal Style, to improve legal writing. Also, has a particular interest in a brief's physical format (e.g., Times New Roman font was designed for newspaper articles, not briefs; do not use).

Worked under Solicitors General Robert Bork and Wade McCree.

Nominated in his mid-thirties to the Seventh Circuit by President Reagan. Would have liked "15 years or so" more as a professor (with consulting and practice), but did not want to turn down the judgeship opportunity.

Enjoys Alaska and opera, outside of the law.

Holds annual "reunions/Star-Wars-movie events," for his clerks.

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