Vaughn R. Walker
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| Vaughn R. Walker | |
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Chief Judge of the US District Court for the 9th District
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Vaughn R. Walker (1944 - ) is the chief judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
Walker was born in Watseka, Illinois and graduated from the University of Michigan and Stanford Law School. After two years as a law clerk for U.S. District Court for the Central District of California judge Robert J. Kelleher, he served in private practice in San Francisco until his September 7, 1989 nomination by President George H. W. Bush to the federal district court. The Senate confirmed Walker on November 21, 1989. He became chief judge in 2004.[1]
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[edit] Views
Walker believes in a legal approach known as law and economics.[2]
Walker's original nomination to the bench by Ronald Reagan was delayed because of controversy over his representation of the United States Olympic Committee in a lawsuit that prohibited the use of the title "Gay Olympics."[1]
Walker is an unorthodox judge who has called for auctioning lead counsel status in securities class actions and for the legalization of drugs.[1]
A San Francisco Chronicle reporter reported Judge Walker has an "aversion to harsh sentences for well-educated, well-heeled criminals and, in particular, perpetrators of securities fraud."[3]
[edit] Cases
His cases have included lawsuits over NSA warrantless surveillance, the criminal sentencing of radio host Bernie Ward, the breach of TD Ameritrade's customer information database, the Apple Computer, Inc. v. Microsoft Corporation [4] copyright infringement case, antitrust litigation over the Hearst Corporation's purchase of the San Francisco Chronicle, and Oracle's merger/hostile takeover of PeopleSoft, approved despite Justice Department opposition. [5]
Perry v. Schwarzenegger, a federal constitutional challenge to California Proposition 8, a state referendum that overturned same-sex marriage in California, is pending before Judge Walker and is scheduled for trial in January 2010.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Egelko, Bob (2004-09-01). "Walker becomes chief district judge". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/09/01/BAGIL8HGVF1.DTL. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
- ^ Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer (Tuesday, September 14, 2004). "Aaron Director -- profoundly influential law professor". http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/09/14/BAGME8OITV1.DTL&hw=Vaughn+Walker&sn=151&sc=105. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
- ^ Holding, Reynolds (Sunday, May 13, 2001). http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2001/05/13/IN144265.DTL&hw=Vaughn+Walker&sn=257&sc=145. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
- ^ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1995/02/21/BUSINESS10578.dtl&hw=Vaughn+Walker&sn=637&sc=107
- ^ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/09/10/MNGTQ8MS7I1.DTL&hw=Vaughn+Walker&sn=153&sc=345
[edit] External links
- Vaughn R. Walker at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
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