Praise Pours In For Judge Justin Walker’s ‘Generational Legal Mind’ And ‘Commitment To The Rule Of Law’

16 State Attorneys General: ‘We Know That Judge Walker Will Listen To The Arguments Of Advocates Appearing Before Him, That He Will Weigh The Facts Against The Law As It Is Written (And Not As He Wishes It To Be), And That He Will Fairly Decide Those Cases Based Upon Controlling Precedent’

16 STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL: “Raised by a single mother in Louisville, Judge Walker’s resume is a testament to the American dream … Judge Walker’s background and his extraordinary academic and professional credentials inspire confidence in us that he has the skill, intellect, and determination to rise to the occasion of this new challenge. But more importantly as someone from outside the Beltway with a commitment to the rule of law, we know that Judge Walker will listen to the arguments of advocates appearing before him, that he will weigh the facts against the law as it is written (and not as he wishes it to be), and that he will fairly decide those cases based upon controlling precedent.” (16 State Attorneys General, Letter to Sens. Graham and Feinstein, 5/05/2020)

• “As chief legal counsel to sovereign states whose citizens are subject to such federal agencies, [the D.C. Circuit’s] jurisdiction matters to us. And Judge Walker’s expansive academic research and writing on complex matters of administrative law demonstrates to us a commitment to judicial restraint and accountability for federal agencies … Quite simply we trust Judge Walker … in balancing the interests of the federal government and its constituent parts—the States.” (16 State Attorneys General, Letter to Sens. Graham and Feinstein, 5/05/2020)

• Letter signed by the attorneys general of: Kentucky, Texas, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia. (16 State Attorneys General, Letter to Sens. Graham and Feinstein, 5/05/2020)

University Of Louisville Brandeis School Of Law Colleagues: ‘Judge Walker Is Refreshingly Fair-Minded And Non-Political … He Approaches Every Case With An Open Mind And Listens Carefully,’ ‘He Possesses An Incisive Legal Mind, Sound Judgment, And A Deep Understanding Of Constitutional Law’

LUKE M. MILLIGAN, Professor of Law, University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law: “I have had the privilege to know Judge Walker for the past six years, as a friend and colleague at the University of Louisville, where he teaches law and serves as part of the law school’s Ordered Liberty Program, an academic program established by the university to support the advanced study of political theory and constitutional law. Judge Walker is undeniably gifted…. He possesses an incisive legal mind, sound judgment, and a deep understanding of constitutional law, further enriched by a decade of scholarly attention to important questions surrounding the role of federal agencies…. His sense of duty toward future lawyers and judges is unsurpassed and I have no doubt he will continue to give the fullest expression to this noble commitment, for the rest of his years as a member of the federal judiciary. In closing, Judge Walker has the integrity, intelligence, temperament, courage, experience, and dedication to the legal profession to serve with distinction on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. I urge the Senate to approve his nomination.” (Luke M. Milligan, University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, Letter To Sens. Graham and Feinstein, 4/29/2020)

RUSSELL L. WEAVER, Professor of Law, University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law: “As a law professor and a former colleague of Judge Justin Walker, I write in support of his nomination as a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. I enthusiastically recommend his confirmation. In these contentious times, when so many wish to politicize virtually everything, Judge Walker is refreshingly fair-minded and non-political. He is the kind of judge who can be expected to objectively listen to both sides of a legal dispute and render a fair and impartial decision that adheres to precedent. He approaches every case with an open mind and listens carefully…. I have observed his work as a law professor at the University of Louisville’s Louis D. Brandeis School of Law. In that capacity, he was extremely well-liked, and was widely regarded as a kind and caring human being who always acted with integrity. All of these characteristics are undeniably valuable for a federal judge. In sum, I cannot recommend Judge Walker more highly.” (Russell L. Weaver, University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, Letter To Sens. Graham and Feinstein, 4/24/2020)

Kentucky Lawyers With Differing Political Beliefs: ‘He Will Be A Non-Partisan And Objective Appellate Judge,’ ‘[Judge Walker] Is Committed To Interpreting The Law As It Is, Not As He Might Wish It To Be,’ And ‘[His] Background Suits Him Well For A Position As A Circuit Judge’

MANNING G. WARREN III, H. Edward Harter Chair of Commercial Law, University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law: “I have known Justin for some five years, beginning with his appointment to the faculty of the Brandeis School of Law in 2015. It has been my privilege to have him as a colleague. He has impressed me with his congeniality, his intellect, his decency, and his discipline. He has brought an uncommonly high level of energy to our law school in virtually every phase of academic life. He has earned the respect of our faculty and of our students for his unmatched dedication to our mission and the generations of future lawyers whom we serve.” (Manning G. Warren III, University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, Letter To Sens. Graham and Feinstein, 4/30/2020)

• “In my view, Justin will be an excellent judge at the appellate level. He possesses the qualities that I believe are critical to this role. These include honesty, fairness, impartiality, and wisdom. Although he and I hail from different political affiliations, I believe he will be a non-partisan and objective appellate judge. I know this from our own personal interactions over the years and from discourse with our colleagues and our students. Despite his lofty intellectual pedigree, he has not lost the common touch. He treats every member of our university community, from staff to faculty to students, with basic kindness. He definitely has the necessary judicial temperament. It is my honor to recommend Judge Justin Walker to you for confirmation by the United States Senate.” (Manning G. Warren III, University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, Letter To Sens. Graham and Feinstein, 4/30/2020)

KENT WICKER, DBL Law: “I write to support enthusiastically the nomination of my friend and colleague, Justin Walker, to be a United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia…. In my view, a circuit judge needs three attributes: intellectual ability, to understand the legal issues before him; integrity, to make decisions based on the law, rather than personal or political views; and humility, to understand that he does not necessarily know all the answers and may need to listen to the arguments of the lawyers before him. Justin Walker possesses all of these qualities, and they have served him well as a federal district judge. They will serve him equally well as a circuit judge.” (Kent Wicker, DBL Law, Letter to Sens. Graham and Feinstein, 4/30/2020)

• “I have practiced in the federal courts of Kentucky for over thirty years. The great bulk of my work has been in federal court, first as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, and for the last 17 years, as a criminal defense attorney. The success of my practice, and the fate of my clients, depends on decisions made by federal judges in Kentucky…. Justin’s background suits him well for a position as a circuit judge. Those judges spend most of their time reading written motions, researching the law, and writing opinions. As a Supreme Court law clerk, an appellate lawyer, and a law professor, Justin has been performing the same tasks for most of his career. Indeed, his background brings better preparation for the position than most practicing lawyers, who spend the bulk their time trying to attract clients or slogging through discovery.” (Kent Wicker, DBL Law, Letter to Sens. Graham and Feinstein, 4/30/2020)

• “I know that Justin possesses the personal and intellectual integrity to make decisions based on the law. Although I am a part-time resident of Daufuskie Island in Chairman Graham’s home state, my politics run considerably closer to those of Ranking Member Feinstein. Yet I know that Justin is committed to interpreting the law as it is, not as he might wish it to be. I am confident that he will make decisions based on an even-handed evaluation of the facts and the legal issues, not based on any political beliefs or philosophy.” (Kent Wicker, DBL Law, Letter to Sens. Graham and Feinstein, 4/30/2020)

Judge Walker’s Former Law Partners: ‘Judge Walker Exceeded Our Expectations,’ ‘[He] Immersed Himself In The Daily Grind Of The Routine Practice Of Law,’ And ‘Seasoned Lawyers Trusted His Good Judgment And Counted On His Preparation At Hearings, Mediations, And At Trial’

15 FORMER LAW FIRM COLLEAGUES: “We are former partners of United States District Court Judge Justin Walker at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP and support his nomination to serve as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Judge Walker’s credentials speak for themselves; his contribution to our firm requires further elaboration…. From day one, Judge Walker demonstrated enthusiasm to contribute to our firm’s service to its clients. In both trial litigation and appellate litigation, Judge Walker exceeded our expectations. Judge Walker immersed himself in the daily grind of the routine practice of law … Seasoned lawyers trusted his good judgment and counted on his preparation at hearings, mediations, and at trial.” (15 Dinsmore & Stohl LLP Attorneys, Letter to Sens. Graham and Feinstein, 5/04/2020)

• “Judge Walker performed his responsibilities in a humble and collegial way. Dinsmore takes pride in its culture of diversity; our lawyers have views across the political spectrum and unique perspectives are encouraged. Judge Walker enjoyed exchanging ideas with persons of varying perspectives and backgrounds. He is a delightful, empathetic human being. We support the confirmation of Judge Justin Walker.” (15 Dinsmore & Stohl LLP Attorneys, Letter to Sens. Graham and Feinstein, 5/04/2020)

Judge Walker’s Former Law School Students Praise ‘Judge Walker’s Character, Compassion, Commitment To Diversity And Equality, Humility, Openmindedness, And Ability To Teach And Inspire’ And His Former Research Assistants Say ‘He’s A Great Person, Mentor, And Colleague’ Who ‘Was Quick To Stand Up For What Was Right, And To Defend Justice Without Hesitation’

JUDGE WALKER’S FORMER RESEARCH ASSISTANTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE: “We are research assistants Judge Justin Walker hired while teaching law at the University of Louisville. While we come from different backgrounds and beliefs, the thing we can all agree on is our emphatic support for his nomination to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Justin has taught us what it means to be a professional inside the courtroom and out. We were able to work side by side with Justin whether in class or on scholarly research over many years and hours. He’s a great person, mentor, and colleague.” (6 Former University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law Research Assistants, Letter to Graham and Feinstein, 5/05/2020)

• “As a mentor, Justin is kind, encouraging, and patient. He challenged us to think. He taught us to make difficult decisions, expect more of ourselves, and to think more of ourselves. He challenged us to view every issue from both sides so we could make reasonable and well-constructed arguments. He taught us how to expect the same from others, while staying true to our core values…. He was quick to stand up for what was right, and to defend justice without hesitation. Justin taught us about living a life of integrity through his own example, and created a desire within us to do the same. Justin’s attributes will lead him to treat every litigant, attorney, staff, or fellow judge with courtesy, patience, dignity and respect.” (6 Former University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law Research Assistants, Letter to Graham and Feinstein, 5/05/2020)

OVER 100 OF JUDGE WALKER’S FORMER LAW STUDENTS: “We are more than a hundred of the students Judge Justin Walker has taught since 2014 at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. We write this letter to highlight Judge Walker’s character, compassion, commitment to diversity and equality, humility, openmindedness, and ability to teach and inspire. We collectively believe Judge Walker will be an excellent federal judge on the District of Columbia Circuit…. [W]e know that he will make a brilliant, fair-minded, and dedicated addition … We may not always agree with every decision he will make, but we will always respect the intellectual rigor and passion for evenhanded justice he will bring to the nation’s capital.” (University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law Students, Letter to Sens. Graham and Feinstein, 5/05/2020)

• “From the pizza dinner he hosts at his house for his first-year law students, to the countless hours he spends meeting with students about drafts of our writings, Judge Walker shows us that he genuinely cares about every single one of us, and makes it his mission to make all of us the best legal writers we can be…. He always makes time to be available and to make every student feel welcome, all while balancing his time as a federal judge…. Judge Walker has also proven to continue this mentorship as a federal judge. Judge Walker encourages all attorneys that come before him to continuously improve on the skills necessary to be a successful lawyer. Specifically, Judge Walker has crafted an order that encourages younger attorneys to practice their oral arguments before him. As some of his former students, we greatly appreciate this dedication to building a strong legal community. Moreover, even with the busy schedule that Judge Walker has, he continues teaching classes at Brandeis, saying that this is a true passion of his.” (University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law Students, Letter to Sens. Graham and Feinstein, 5/05/2020)

• “[T]he appointment of Judge Walker to the District of Columbia Circuit will allow him to continue the mentorship of his clerks to come. Judge Walker is a natural-born teacher: clear, candid without being destructive, kind, and understanding. He breaks down the walls surrounding the law, allowing his students to feel welcomed to this discipline…. This legacy will continue if he is appointed, where he’ll teach his clerks important lessons about openmindedness, inclusion, rigorous analysis, and legal writing that will forever endure.” (University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law Students, Letter to Sens. Graham and Feinstein, 5/05/2020)