John D. Tinder

The Honorable John D. Tinder was a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit from 2007 to 2015 and a District Judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana from 1987 to 2007. He was appointed to the District Court by President Ronald Reagan and to the Seventh Circuit by President George W. Bush. The Senate confirmed his appointment to the Seventh Circuit by a vote of 93-0. While on the bench, Tinder presided over thousands of cases and hundreds of trials, hearings, and appeals on nearly every subject and cause of action within the jurisdiction of federal courts.

Prior to his judicial service, Tinder was the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, serving as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the district. Before his three presidential appointments, Tinder spent seven years in private practice and served as both a Marion County public defender and prosecutor.

A proud native of Indiana, Judge Tinder received both his bachelor and law degrees from Indiana University. He is the recipient of many awards including Wabash College’s David W. Peck Medal in 2015, Indianapolis Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Professionalism Award in 2007, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School’s Fred B. McCashland Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2005, and Wheeler Boys and Girls Club’s Volunteer of the Year in Indianapolis in 1988. He was also named a Fellow by Academy of Law Alumni at Indiana University School of Law Bloomington in 2007.

Currently, Judge Tinder applies this wealth of experience at Kaplan & Grady, LLC in Chicago, Illinois, which hosts and supports his dispute-resolution practice. He is also a unique resource for firm clients, assisting counsel and parties with the analysis and assessment of trial and appellate matters.