Linda T. Walker
Encyclopedia
Linda Thompson Walker is a federal magistrate judge
for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
and currently a nominee for a seat
on that court.
, her M.S. in 1987 from Atlanta University, and her B.S. in 1983 from Southern University
. From 1989 to 1990, Walker served as a law clerk to Judge G. Ernest Tidwell
of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. From 1990 to 1992 she worked as a litigation associate at the law firm of Webb & Daniel in Atlanta, Georgia
.
Walker served as Deputy County Attorney (1992-1997) and as County Attorney (1997-1999) for Fulton County
, and as director of the County’s Board of Registration and Elections in 1999. Since 2000 she is a magistrate judge.
Senators Saxby Chambliss
and Johnny Isakson
. She had also been considered by a Democratic
search committee led by former Representative Buddy Darden
, but she was not recommended by that committee. On January 26, 2011, President Barack Obama
nominated Walker to fill the Northern District of Georgia vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Beverly B. Martin
to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
. Her nomination is currently on hold because Senators Saxby Chambliss
and Johnny Isakson
have refused to support another nominee for another seat on the same district, Natasha Perdew Silas
. Walker, a Republican, was part of a packaged deal with Silas, a Democrat and the choice of the Democratic delegtion to Congress from Georgia.
United States magistrate judge
In the United States federal courts, magistrate judges are appointed to assist United States district court judges in the performance of their duties...
for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia is a United States District Court which serves the residents of forty-six counties...
and currently a nominee for a seat
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
on that court.
Early life
Walker received her J.D. in 1989 from the University of Georgia School of LawUniversity of Georgia School of Law
The University of Georgia School of Law is a graduate school of the University of Georgia. Founded in 1859 and located in Athens, Georgia, USA, Georgia Law was formerly known as the Lumpkin School of Law. The Law School is the second oldest of the University's schools and colleges. The University...
, her M.S. in 1987 from Atlanta University, and her B.S. in 1983 from Southern University
Southern University
Southern University and A&M College is a historically black college located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Baton Rouge campus is located on Scott’s Bluff overlooking the Mississippi River in the northern section...
. From 1989 to 1990, Walker served as a law clerk to Judge G. Ernest Tidwell
George Ernest Tidwell
George Ernest Tidwell was a United States federal judge.Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Tidwell received an LL.B. from Emory University School of Law in 1954. He was in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia from 1954 to 1966. He was a Legal aide to House Floor Leader, Georgia General Assembly from 1964...
of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. From 1990 to 1992 she worked as a litigation associate at the law firm of Webb & Daniel in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
Walker served as Deputy County Attorney (1992-1997) and as County Attorney (1997-1999) for Fulton County
Fulton County, Georgia
Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its county seat is Atlanta, the state capital since 1868 and the principal county of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
, and as director of the County’s Board of Registration and Elections in 1999. Since 2000 she is a magistrate judge.
Nomination to federal district court
Walker was recommended for a judgeship on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia by RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Senators Saxby Chambliss
Saxby Chambliss
Clarence Saxby Chambliss, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a U.S. Representative ....
and Johnny Isakson
Johnny Isakson
John Hardy "Johnny" Isakson is the junior United States Senator from Georgia and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he represented in the House....
. She had also been considered by a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
search committee led by former Representative Buddy Darden
George Darden
George Washington "Buddy" Darden, III is an American politician and lawyer.-Early life:Darden was born in Hancock County, Georgia and graduated from Sparta High School in Sparta, Georgia in 1961. He earned his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Georgia in Athens in 1965 and his Juris Doctor...
, but she was not recommended by that committee. On January 26, 2011, President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
nominated Walker to fill the Northern District of Georgia vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Beverly B. Martin
Beverly B. Martin
Beverly Baldwin Martin is a United States federal judge. She was appointed to the federal bench by President Bill Clinton. On June 19, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Martin to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit...
to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Middle District of Alabama...
. Her nomination is currently on hold because Senators Saxby Chambliss
Saxby Chambliss
Clarence Saxby Chambliss, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a U.S. Representative ....
and Johnny Isakson
Johnny Isakson
John Hardy "Johnny" Isakson is the junior United States Senator from Georgia and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he represented in the House....
have refused to support another nominee for another seat on the same district, Natasha Perdew Silas
Natasha Perdew Silas
Natasha Perdew Silas is a staff attorney at the Federal Defender Program for the Northern District of Georgia where she is based in Atlanta. She is also the nominee to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia....
. Walker, a Republican, was part of a packaged deal with Silas, a Democrat and the choice of the Democratic delegtion to Congress from Georgia.