Lance Walker

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Lance Walker
Image of Lance Walker

Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the District of Maine
Tenure

2018 - Present

Years in position

6

Prior offices
Maine District Court
Cumberland County Superior Court

Education

Bachelor's

University of Maine, 1996

Law

University of Maine School of Law, 2000

Personal
Birthplace
Milo, Maine


Lance Edward Walker is the chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maine. He was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump (R) on April 10, 2018, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 11, 2018, by a voice vote.[1] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here. In 2024, Walker became the chief judge of the court.[2]

The United States District Court for the District of Maine is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.

Walker was a justice on the Cumberland County Superior Court from 2015 to 2018. Governor Paul LePage (R) appointed Walker May 26, 2015.[3] Walker was also previously a judge on the district courts in Maine from 2014 to 2015. Paul LePage appointed him on February 7, 2014. The Maine State Senate confirmed his appointment. Walker was sworn into office May 2.[4][5][6]

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the District of Maine

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump

Walker was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of Maine by President Donald Trump (R) on April 10, 2018. The U.S. Senate confirmed Walker on October 11, 2018, by a voice vote.[7] He received commission on October 17, 2018.[1] To read more about the federal nomination process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Lance Walker
Court: United States District Court for the District of Maine
Progress
Confirmed 184 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: April 10, 2018
ApprovedAABA Rating: Unanimously qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: June 6, 2018
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: June 28, 2018 
ApprovedAConfirmed: October 11, 2018
ApprovedAVote: Voice vote

Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Walker on October 11, 2018, by voice vote.[8]


Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

Walker had his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 6, 2018. The committee voted to advance Walker's nomination to the full Senate on June 28, 2018.[9]

Nomination

Walker was nominated to replace Judge John Woodcock, who assumed senior status in 2017.

The American Bar Association unanimously rated Walker well qualified for the position.[10] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Cumberland County Superior Court (2015-2018)

Governor Paul LePage (R) appointed Walker to the Cumberland County Superior Court on May 26, 2015.[1]

Maine District Courts (2014-2015)

Governor Paul LePage (R) appointed Walker to the Maine District Courts on February 7, 2014.[1]

Early life and education

Walker was born in Milo, Maine. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Maine in 1996 and his J.D. from the University of Maine, School of Law, in 2000.[4][1]

Professional career


About the court

District of Maine
First Circuit
Maineseal.png
Judgeships
Posts: 3
Judges: 3
Vacancies: 0
Judges
Chief: Lance Walker
Active judges: Active judges:
Stacey Neumann, Nancy Torresen, Lance Walker

Senior judges:
D. Brock Hornby, Jon Levy, George Singal, John Woodcock


The United States District Court for the District of Maine, often referred to as the District of Maine, is one of 94 United States district courts. The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To read more about district courts, click here.

The court is headquartered in Portland, Maine, and has a second courthouse in Bangor, Maine. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

The District of Maine was one of the original 13 district courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, even though Maine was not a separate state from Massachusetts until 1820.

The Counties of Maine (click for larger map)

The District of Maine has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.

The jurisdiction of the District of Maine consists of all the counties in the state of Maine. The court's headquarters are in Portland, with a courthouse in Bangor.[11]

When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Cases from the First Circuit may be appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States.





To read opinions published by this court, click here.

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

  • The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
  • The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
  • The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
  • As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
  • After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
  • If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
  • If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
  • The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
  • If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
  • If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.


See also

Maine Judicial Selection More Courts
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Courts in Maine
Maine Supreme Court
Elections: 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017
Gubernatorial appointments
Judicial selection in Maine
Federal courts
State courts
Local courts

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Federal Judicial Center, "Walker, Lance Edward," accessed October 14, 2018
  2. ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Walker, Lance Edward," April 19, 2024
  3. ↑ Portland Press Herald, "LePage nominates three judges to Maine Superior Court," May 26, 2015
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 State of Maine, Office of Governor Paul LePage, "Governor LePage Announces Judicial Nominees," February 7, 2014
  5. ↑ State of Maine, Office of Governor Paul LePage, "Governor LePage Administers Oath to Judicial Appointees," May 2, 2014
  6. ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of judicial selection: Maine," accessed March 11, 2014
  7. ↑ Congress.gov' "PN1810 — Lance E. Walker — The Judiciary," accessed April 23, 2020.'
  8. ↑ Congress.gov' "PN1810 — Lance E. Walker — The Judiciary," accessed April 23, 2020.'
  9. ↑ Congress.gov' "PN1810 — Lance E. Walker — The Judiciary," accessed April 23, 2020.'
  10. ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees," accessed April 23, 2017
  11. ↑ U.S. Marshals Service, "District of Maine Courthouse Locations," accessed October 10, 2014

Political offices
Preceded by
- 		United States District Court for the District of Maine
2018-Present		 Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
- 		Cumberland County Superior Court
2015-2018		 Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
- 		Maine District Court
Succeeded by
-


Maine courts

Federal courts:

First Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Maine • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Maine

State courts:

Maine Supreme Judicial Court • Maine Superior Court • Maine District Courts • Maine Family Division • Maine Small Claims Court • Maine Business and Consumer Court • Maine Probate Courts

State resources:

Courts in Maine • Maine judicial elections • Judicial selection in Maine

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