Debra B. Walker at a glance
- Current role
- Appellate Court Justice
- Jurisdiction
- Illinois · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Debra B. Walker
Appellate Court Justice · Illinois Appellate Court, District 1
Biography
Professional career
- She has served on the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism since its inception in 2005, including as Chair from 2012 to 2018, and has contributed to the Access to Justice Commission and the Illinois Judicial Pension Board.
- She completed studies at the University of Illinois College of Law in 1987 and practiced as a trial lawyer in Chicago for 21 years, specializing in defending professionals against malpractice claims and becoming a partner at Clausen Miller, P.C. during her legal career
Education
- Debra Walker obtained an accounting degree from the University of Illinois College of Business in 1982 and passed the CPA examination on her first attempt.
Additional information
- Walker has received numerous accolades, including the University of Illinois College of Law Alumni Loyalty Award (2014), the Distinguished Alumni Award (2019), and the Illinois Bar Foundation Distinguished Service to Law and Society Award (2022).
- She also received the Excellence Award from the National Conference of Bar Foundations in 2017
- Elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County in 2008, initially serving in Traffic Court and later in the Domestic Relations Division, where she handled custody, visitation, property division, maintenance, child support, and domestic violence cases.
- Trial lawyer in Chicago for 21 years prior to becoming a judge.
- Staff accountant with McGladrey (now RSM) before attending law school.
- She also served in Parentage Court, managing high-volume, emotionally charged cases with numerous pro se litigants.
- Debra Walker grew up on a small farm near Carthage, Illinois, with four brothers and a sister.
- She was endorsed by prominent officials including U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Congressman Mike Quigley
- She is also involved with her alma mater, serving on the Dean’s Advisory Board, Anderson Center for Advocacy and Professionalism Board, and Diversity Committee
- Walker has been highly active in professional organizations.
- She currently resides in the Old Town neighborhood of Chicago and is actively involved in community and professional initiatives, including the University of Illinois Moms Association
- She is a past president of the Illinois Judges Foundation, Illinois Bar Foundation, and Women’s Bar Association of Illinois.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
Photography, broadcasting, and recording in an Illinois courtroom are permitted only under Supreme Court authority or Rule 44's stated exceptions; participants may not record a remote proceeding unless the court directs it or extended-media coverage is approved.
the taking of photographs in the courtroom during sessions of the court or recesses between proceedings and the broadcasting or televising of court proceedings are permitted only to the extent authorized by order of the Supreme CourtIllinois Supreme Court Rule 44, Photography and Video in the Courtroom ↗
Official record
Statewide
The official record may be taken stenographically or through a Supreme Court-approved electronic recording system, including approved videoconferencing services.
The record of court proceedings may be taken by stenographic means or by an electronic recording system, including video conferencing services, approved by the Supreme Court.Illinois Supreme Court Rule 46, Official Record of Court Proceedings ↗
Appellate Extended Media Coverage
Statewide
All five Illinois Appellate Court districts accept extended-media requests for oral arguments, normally at least seven days in advance, subject to approval and continuing control by the assigned appellate panel.
All five districts of the Illinois Appellate Court shall allow requests for extended media coverage of oral arguments in accordance with the provisions of this policy.Policy for Extended Media Coverage in the Illinois Appellate Court ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Illinois Supreme Court Rule 44, Photography and Video in the Courtroom
Illinois Appellate Court, District 1
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Policy for Extended Media Coverage in the Illinois Appellate Court
Illinois Appellate Court, District 1
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 28, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 1, 2026.
State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 28, 2026
View State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts official judicial roster ↗Illinois Supreme Court Rule 44, Photography and Video in the Courtroom
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Illinois Supreme Court Rule 44, Photography and Video in the Courtroom ↗Illinois Supreme Court Rule 46, Official Record of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Illinois Supreme Court Rule 46, Official Record of Court Proceedings ↗Policy for Extended Media Coverage in the Illinois Appellate Court
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Policy for Extended Media Coverage in the Illinois Appellate Court ↗