Jamar K. Walker

{{Infobox judge

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Jamar K. Walker

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Judge-walker-new-headshot.jpg

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| office = Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

| term_start = March 3, 2023

| term_end =

| appointer = Joe Biden

| predecessor = Raymond Alvin Jackson

| successor =

| birth_name = Jamar Kentrell Walker

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1986}}

| birth_place = Nassawadox, Virginia, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

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| residence =

| education = University of Virginia (BA, JD)

}}

Jamar Kentrell Walker (born 1986){{cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Walker%20SJQ%20Public%20Final.pdf|title=Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees|publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|accessdate=September 19, 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://vettingroom.org/2022/09/01/jamar-walker/ | title=Jamar Walker – Nominee to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia | date=September 2022 }} is an American lawyer serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. He previously served as an assistant United States attorney for the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Early life and education

Walker was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.{{Cite web |last=Alston |first=K. |date=March 1, 2022 |title=WARNER & KAINE ANNOUNCE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA |url=https://hamptonroadsmessenger.com/posts/warner-kaine-announce-recommendations-for-u-s-district-court-for-the-eastern-district-of-virginia/ |access-date=July 13, 2022 |website=Hampton Roads Messenger |language=en-US}} He attended Nandua High School and served as class president. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia in 2008 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2011.{{Cite web |date=November 10, 2021 |title=5/10/15/25: How's Life After Law School? |url=https://www.law.virginia.edu/uvalawyer/article/5101525-how%E2%80%99s-life-after-law-school-0 |access-date=July 13, 2022 |website=University of Virginia School of Law |language=en}}

Career

From 2011 and 2012, Walker served as a law clerk for Judge Raymond Alvin Jackson of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. From 2012 to 2015, he worked as an associate at Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C. He has served as an assistant United States attorney in the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia from 2015 to 2023,{{Cite press release |title=President Biden Names Twenty-Second Round of Judicial Nominees |date=July 13, 2022 |publisher=The White House |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/07/13/president-biden-names-twenty-second-round-of-judicial-nominees/ |access-date=July 13, 2022}} where he focused on white-collar crime.{{cite web | url=https://vettingroom.org/2022/09/01/jamar-walker/ | title=Jamar Walker – Nominee to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia | date=September 2022 }}

= Federal judicial service =

In March 2022, Walker was one of two candidates recommended to the president by U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.{{Cite press release|title=Warner & Kaine Announce Recommendations for U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia|date=March 1, 2022|url=https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/03/01/2022/warner-and-kaine-announce-recommendations-for-us-district-court-for-the-eastern-district-of-virginia|access-date=August 3, 2022}} On July 13, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Walker to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. President Biden nominated Walker to the seat vacated by Judge Raymond Alvin Jackson, who assumed senior status on November 23, 2021.{{Cite press release|title=Nominations Sent to the Senate|date=July 13, 2022|publisher=The White House|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/07/13/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-74/}}{{PD-notice}} On September 21, 2022, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.{{Cite web|title=Nominations|date=September 21, 2022|publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/09/21/2022/nominations}} On December 1, 2022, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 15–7 vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/EBM%20Results%20-%202022-12-011.pdf|title=Results of Executive Business Meeting – December 1, 2022|publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|accessdate=December 1, 2022}} On January 3, 2023, his nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate; he was renominated later the same day.{{Cite press release|title=Nominations Sent to the Senate|date=January 3, 2023|publisher=The White House|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/03/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-91/}} On February 2, 2023, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 14–6 vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/EBM%20Results%20-%202023-02-021.pdf|title=Results of Executive Business Meeting – February 2, 2023|publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|accessdate=February 2, 2023}} On February 27, 2023, the Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 52–39 vote.{{Cite web|date=February 27, 2023|title=On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Jamar K. Walker to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia)|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1181/vote_118_1_00025.htm|access-date=February 27, 2023|website=United States Senate}} On February 28, 2023, his nomination was confirmed by a 52–41 vote.{{Cite web|date=February 28, 2023|title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: Jamar K. Walker, of Virginia, to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia)|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1181/vote_118_1_00026.htm|access-date=February 28, 2023|website=United States Senate}} He received his judicial commission on March 3, 2023.{{FJC Bio|nid=13328846|inline=yes}} He was sworn in on March 6, 2023.{{Cite web|date=March 6, 2023|title=Jamar K. Walker sworn in as United States District Judge|url=https://www.vaed.uscourts.gov/sites/vaed/files/DRAFT%20JKW%20announcement%20for%20website%20%28002%29.pdf|website=vaed.uscourts.gov|access-date=May 27, 2023}} Walker is the first openly LGBTQ Article III judge to serve in Virginia.{{Cite web |last=Kutner |first=Brad |date=July 13, 2022 |title=President Biden Makes Second Round of Judicial Nominations in Two days |url=https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2022/07/13/biden-nominates-more-judges-picks-first-openly-lgbtq-nominee-for-virginias-trial-courts/ |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=National Law Journal |language=en}}