William Zloch

Nomination Tracker
Nominee Information
	Name: William J. Zloch
	Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Progress
	Confirmed 23 days after nomination.
	Nominated: October 9, 1985
	ABA Rating:
	Questionnaire:
	Hearing: October 30, 1985
	QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
	Reported: October 31, 1985
	Confirmed: November 1, 1985
	Vote: Voice vote

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William J. Zloch is a senior federal judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. He joined the court in 1985 after being nominated by President Ronald Reagan. From 2000 to 2007, Zloch served as chief judge of the district court. He elected to take senior status beginning January 31, 2017.^[1]

Early life and education

Born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Zloch graduated from the University of Notre Dame with his bachelor's degree in 1966 and from Notre Dame Law School with his J.D. in 1974.^[1]

Military service

Zloch served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy from 1967 to 1969.^[1]

Professional career

1985-present: United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

2017-present: Senior judge
2000-2007: Chief judge
1985-2017: Judge

1974-1985: Private practice, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.^[1]

Judicial career

Southern District of Florida

Zloch was nominated to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida by President Ronald Reagan on October 9, 1985, to a new judgeship created by 98 Stat. 333. Hearings on Zloch's nomination were held before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary on October 30, 1985, and his nomination was reported by U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) on October 31, 1985. Zloch was confirmed on a voice vote of the U.S. Senate on November 1, 1985, and he received his commission on November 4, 1985. From 2000 to 2007, Zloch served as chief judge of the district court. He elected to take senior status beginning January 31, 2017.^[1]^[2]

Noteworthy cases

Bradley Birkenfeld case (2010)

See also: United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (United States v. Bradley Birkenfeld, 08-CR-60099-ZLOCH)

Judge Zloch was the presiding judge in the case of former UBS banker Bradley Birkenfeld, who was considered to be a key person in a wide range income tax evasion case. On December 31, 2009, Birkenfeld's legal team asked the judge to delay the start of his three-year prison sentence on grounds he should be re-sentenced for cooperating with authorities. This came after federal prosecutors asked the judge to be lenient on sentencing the former banker.^[3]

On January 4, 2010, Judge Zloch refused the request from Birkenfeld's legal team. Birkenfeld began serving a three-year prison sentence on January 8, 2010.^[4]