Bill Nelson: “I wish to congratulate Judge Walker on his confirmation vote today. He has been waiting patiently since he was voted out…”

“I wish to congratulate Judge Walker on his confirmation vote today. He has been waiting patiently since he was voted out of committee in June, and the Northern District of Florida will be well served by his confirmation. A Florida native, Judge Walker was born in Winter Garden. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Florida where he graduated first in his class. He earned his law degree at the University of Florida as well. He has clerked for Justice Stephen Grimes of the Florida Supreme Court and Judge Robert Hinkle of the Northern District of Florida. He served as an assistant public defender of Florida's Second Judicial Circuit from 1997 to 1999, before then spending a decade in private practice where he specialized in civil litigation and criminal defense. And since 2009, he has had an outstanding record as a circuit judge, living in Tallahassee. We have another district judge nomination pending on the Senate calendar as well. Judge Brian Davis would fill a judicial emergency for the Middle District of Florida, and I urge my colleagues to take up this vote as soon as possible. I hope the Senate can work to eliminate the backlog of nominees pending on the floor. Even nominees with the support of both home State Senators are being held up. The high level of judicial vacancies across the country puts at risk the ability of all Americans to have a fair hearing in court. I yield the floor.…”