Vaughn Walker: Difference between revisions
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'''Vaughn R. Walker''' (born 1944) is an American [[jurist]] who currently serves as [[Chief Judge]] of the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of California]]. |
'''Vaughn R. Walker''' (born 1944) is an American [[jurist]] who currently serves as [[Chief Judge]] of the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of California]]. Walker is one of two gay federal judges in the country. |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Revision as of 22:25, 14 November 2010
Vaughn Walker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Judge of the District Court for the Northern District of California | |
| Assumed office October 30, 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Marilyn Hall Patel |
| Judge of the District Court for the Northern District of California | |
| Assumed office November 27, 1989 | |
| Nominated by | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Spencer Williams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1944 (age 79–80) Watseka, United States |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan Stanford Law School |
| Signature |  |
Vaughn R. Walker (born 1944) is an American jurist who currently serves as Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Walker is one of two gay federal judges in the country.
Biography
Walker was born in Watseka, Illinois, in 1944. He graduated from the University of Michigan (1966) and Stanford Law School (1970).[1]
After clerking for United States District Court for the Central District of California Judge Robert J. Kelleher (1971–72), he practiced in San Francisco at Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro.
Walker was originally nominated to the bench by Ronald Reagan in 1987. However, this nomination stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee because of controversy over his representation of the United States Olympic Committee in a lawsuit that prohibited the use of the title "Gay Olympics".[2] Two dozen House Democrats, led by Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, opposed his nomination because of his perceived "insensitivity" to gays and the poor.[3]
On September 7, 1989, Walker was re-nominated by President George H. W. Bush to the seat on the federal district court vacated by Spencer M. Williams.[1] Walker was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on November 21, 1989, on unanimous consent and received his commission on November 27, 1989.
On September 29, 2010, Walker announced he would retire in February 2011 and return to private practice.[4]
Views
Walker generally believes in a legal approach known as law and economics.[5]
Walker has been called an "unorthodox" and "independent-minded conservative" judge. He has called for some unusual policies including the auctioning of lead counsel status in securities class action suits and for the legalization of drugs.[2]
A San Francisco Chronicle columnist and reporter wrote in a commentary that Walker has an "aversion to harsh sentences for well-educated, well-heeled criminals and, in particular, perpetrators of securities fraud."[6]
The New York Times at the time of his initial Reagan nomination stated he was active in Republican politics;[7] Wired magazine describes Walker as having libertarian leanings.[8]
Cases
Walker has presided over such notable cases as lawsuits over NSA warrantless surveillance;[9] the criminal sentencing of radio host Bernie Ward; the breach of TD Ameritrade's customer information database; the Apple Computer, Inc. v. Microsoft Corporation copyright infringement case;[10] antitrust litigation over the Hearst Corporation's purchase of the San Francisco Chronicle; and Oracle's merger/hostile takeover of PeopleSoft, which was approved despite Justice Department opposition.[11]
On January 11, 2010, Walker began hearing arguments for Perry v. Schwarzenegger. The case was a federal-constitutional challenge to California Proposition 8, a voter initiative constitutional amendment that eliminated the right of same sex couples to marry which had previously been granted after the California Supreme Court found that Proposition 22 was unconstitutional. [12] On August 4, 2010, Walker ruled that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional "under both the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses," and enjoined (that is, prohibited) its enforcement.[13]
References
- ^ a b Federal Judicial Center page on Vaughn Walker.
- ^ a b Egelko, Bob (2004-09-01). "Walker becomes chief district judge". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Gay judge has proven record of impartiality" (editorial). The San Francisco Chronicle. February 9, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2010.
- ^ Mintz, Howard (September 29, 2010). "Federal Judge Vaughn Walker announces retirement". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
- ^ Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer (Tuesday, September 14, 2004). "Aaron Director – profoundly influential law professor". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Holding, Reynolds (Sunday, May 13, 2001). "White-collar crooks' suite-heart deals". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Philip Shenon (1988-1-14). "Battle Looming Over a Nominee For U.S. Court". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
Mr. Walker, a 43-year-old partner at the law firm of Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro who has been active in Republican politics...
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Ryan Singel (November 17, 2006). "NSA Case Becomes Lawyer Junket". Wired. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
- ^
Charlie Savage, James Risen (2010-03-31). "Federal Judge Finds N.S.A. Wiretaps Were Illegal". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the National Security Agency's program of surveillance without warrants was illegal, rejecting the Obama administration's effort to keep shrouded in secrecy one of the most disputed counterterrorism policies of former President George W. Bush.
- ^ Examiner Staff and Wire Reports (1995-02-21). "High Court rejects final Apple appeal". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ^ Pimentel, Benjamin (2004-09-10). "Oracle wins antitrust suit in bid for rival / Ruling lifts major obstacle to takeover of PeopleSoft". The San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ Michael B. Farrell (January 11, 2010). "Gay marriage trial begins with tough questions for both sides". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
- ^ Devin Dwyer (August 4, 2010). "Unconstitutional: Federal Court Overturns Proposition 8, Gay Marriage Ban in California" (PDF). ABC News Online. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
External links
- Vaughn Walker at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.