David H. DeCelles Appointed to 14-Year Term as United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Illinois

 Chief Judge Michael B. Brennan of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is pleased to announce the appointment of David H. DeCelles to a 14-year term as United States Bankruptcy Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Mr. DeCelles succeeds Bankruptcy Judge Janet S. Baer who will retire in March 2026. Mr. DeCelles will take the oath of office and join the bankruptcy bench in Chicago on March 5, 2026.

Mr. DeCelles earned his bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Northwestern University and graduated law school, with honors, at the University of Chicago where he was the managing editor for the University of Chicago Law Review. Mr. DeCelles began his legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Pamela A. Rymer in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. After his clerkship, he handled complex commercial litigation and bankruptcy litigation at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago, eventually becoming a partner at the firm. After several years in litigation, Mr. DeCelles moved to the City of Chicago Law Department, Appeals Division as Assistant Corporation Counsel. Shortly after, he moved to Washington, D.C. to take a position as a trial attorney at the United States Department of Justice, Civil Division. After several years, Mr. DeCelles transferred to the United States Attorney’s Office in Chicago where he became an Assistant United States Attorney. He was primarily responsible for representing the United States in bankruptcy court litigation including claim objections, confirmation of Chapter 11 and Chapter 13 plans, cash collateral and sale motions, as well as adversary proceedings and disputes concerning automatic stay and discharge injunctions. Furthermore, Mr. DeCelles represented the government in commercial and tort litigation in both district court and state court proceedings involving federal liens.

Mr. DeCelles’ professionalism and vast experience in bankruptcy matters, as well as his thorough knowledge of the Northern District of Illinois, will assist him as a United States Bankruptcy Judge. We welcome him to our bankruptcy bench.