Chief Judge Diane P. Wood announced that the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has reappointed Northern Illinois Chief Bankruptcy Judge Bruce W. Black to another 14-year term when his current term expires on August 12, 2015. Chief Judge Wood commented that the bar and the public were extensively surveyed and the results were that Chief Bankruptcy Judge Black is rated as an excellent judge.

Chief Bankruptcy Judge Black was sworn in as a bankruptcy judge in 2001 to a term beginning on August 13, 2001. He was appointed as Chief Bankruptcy Judge on July 1, 2011. He earned his undergraduate degree from Bradley University and his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1971. Prior to his appointment as a bankruptcy judge, he served as law clerk to the Honorable Robert D. Morgan, U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois. He became Assistant State’s Attorney of Tazewell County, Illinois, and then Tazewell County State’s Attorney. He was a Judge for the Tenth Judicial Circuit of Illinois at the time of his appointment to the bankruptcy court in 2001.