A judge based in Hammond's federal courthouse has been tapped by President George W. Bush to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit.

Phillip Simon, a federal judge for the Northern District of Indiana since 2003, was nominated Friday for a seat on the 7th Circuit bench.

The 7th Circuit is the last stop prior to being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court for cases in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Simon would replace retired Judge Kenneth F. Ripple.

Simon's legal career includes serving as an associate at the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis and serving as assistant U.S. attorney in the Northern District of Indiana.

In that capacity, Simon oversaw all criminal prosecutions in the Northern District of Indiana and supervised and participated in prosecutions involving large-scale drug distribution rings, illegal firearms trafficking, white collar fraud cases, environmental crime, and mob-related racketeering cases.

In addition, he was in charge of a public corruption task force in Lake County.

In 1999, Simon was given the director's award by Attorney General Janet Reno, the highest award given to an assistant U. S. attorney by the Justice Department.

Simon earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa in 1984, before studying law at Indiana University.