Jamar Walker

Eastern District of Virginia
	Fourth Circuit
Judgeships
	Posts: 11
	Judges: 11
	Vacancies: 0
Judges
	Chief: Mark Davis
	Active judges: Arenda L. Wright Allen, Rossie Alston, Leonie Brinkema, Mark Davis, Patricia Tolliver Giles, Elizabeth Hanes, M. Hannah Lauck, Michael Nachmanoff, David J. Novak, Jamar Walker, Roderick Charles Young; Senior judges:; T.S. Ellis III, John A. Gibney, Claude Hilton, Henry Hudson, Raymond Jackson, Liam O'Grady, Robert Payne, Rebecca Beach Smith, Anthony Trenga

Nomination Tracker
Nominee Information
	Name: Jamar Walker
	Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
Progress
	Confirmed 230 days after nomination.
	Nominated: July 13, 2022
	ABA Rating: Well qualified
	Questionnaire: Questionnaire
	Hearing: September 21, 2022
	Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript
	QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
	Reported: December 1, 2022 (first)/ February 2, 2023 (second)
	Confirmed: February 28, 2023
	Vote: 52-41

Jamar Walker is a judge to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. He was nominated to the court by President Joe Biden (D) on July 13, 2022, and confirmed by the United States Senate on February 28, 2023, by a vote of 52 - 41.^[1]^[2]^[3] To see a full list of judges appointed by Joe Biden, click here.

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.

Walker was an assistant U.S. attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.^[1]

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (2023-present)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden

On July 13, 2022, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Walker to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.^[4]

Walker's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2023.^[5] The president renominated Walker on the same day.^[2]To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Jamar Walker received commission on March 3, 2023.^[6]

Confirmation vote

Walker was confirmed by a 52-41 vote of the U.S. Senate on February 28, 2023.^[2] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.

Jamar Walker confirmation vote (February 28, 2023)
Party	Yea	Nay	No vote
Democratic	45	0	3
Republican	5	41	3
Independent	2	0	1
Total	52	41	7

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Walker's nomination on September 21, 2022. Walker was reported to the full Senate on December 1, 2022, after a 15-7 committee vote.^[7]

Walker's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2023.^[8] The president renominated Walker on the same day.^[2] In a committee hearing on February 2, 2023, Walker was reported to the full Senate, after a 14-6 committee vote.^[3]

Nomination

On July 13, 2022, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Walker to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.^[1] Walker was nominated to replace Judge Raymond Jackson, who assumed senior status on November 23, 2021.^[4]

The American Bar Association rated Walker well qualified by a substantial majority and qualified by a minority.^[9] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Walker's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2023.^[10] The president renominated Walker on the same day.^[2]

Biography

Education

Walker obtained a B.A. from the University of Virginia in 2008 and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2011.^[1]

Professional career

2023-present: Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
2015-2023: Assistant U.S. attorney, United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia
2012-2015: Associate, Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C.
2011-2012: Law clerk to Judge Raymond Jackson, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia^[1]

About the court

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is one of 94 United States district courts. It is one of two federal district courts serving the commonwealth of Virginia. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit based in downtown Richmond, Virginia, at the Lewis F. Powell Federal Courthouse.

The Eastern District of Virginia has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.

The Eastern District of Virginia court's jurisdiction covers slightly over six million people, comprising approximately 85 percent of the state's population.

There are four court divisions, each covering the following counties and cities:

The Alexandria Division, covering Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William and Stafford counties, in addition to the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park.

The Newport Division, covering Gloucester, James City, Mathews and York counties, in addition to the cities of Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson, and Williamsburg.

The Norfolk Division, covering Accomack, Isle of Wight, Northampton and Southampton counties, in addition to the cities of Cape Charles, Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach.

The Richmond Division, covering Amelia, Brunswick, Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Essex, Goochland, Greensville, Hanover, Henrico, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, New Kent, Northumberland, Nottoway, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Surry, Sussex and Westmoreland counties, in addition to the cities of Colonial Heights, Emporia, Fredericksburg, Hopewell, Petersburg, and Richmond.

To read opinions published by this court, click here.

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.

As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.

After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.

If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.

The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.

If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.