Judge to relocate to Maurer School of Law

After a mutual agreement, the Honorable David F. Hamilton, one of 16 judges for the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, will relocate his chambers to the IU Maurer School of Law.

“It was a mutual decision,” said Kenneth L. Turchi, assistant dean for communications and marketing for the School of Law. “The judge has a long-standing relationship with Indiana University. He’s taught courses here before; his wife received her degree here.”

Although the decision was announced recently, Turchi said the judge will not be fully moved in until the end of this calendar year.

Plans are still being finalized, including what role the judge will play on campus.

“The goal of our school is to introduce our students to all the various opportunities,” he said. “Having him in the building will provide a lot of ways for our students to be exposed to the judicial system.”

Whether Hamilton will teach a course is still to be seen.

“We still need to work out the specifics once he has relocated here,” Turchi said. “His first obligation is to the court.”

The court is located in Chicago, where Turchi said Hamilton will frequent when he is called to do so.

At IU, Hamilton previously taught a clinic on the federal courts and served on the board of directors of the school’s Center for Constitutional Democracy. The judge was nominated to the Seventh Circuit by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate in November 2009.