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title: "John Mercer Walker Jr. | KnowJudges"
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# John Mercer Walker Jr.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit · U.S. Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- State: National federal courts
- Role: U.S. Circuit Judge
- Service status: senior
- Last verified: 2026-07-25

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit: Nominated September 21, 1989, confirmed November 22, 1989; held the role of Chief Judge from September 30, 2000, to September 30, 2006
- Judge, District Court, S.D. New York, 1985-1989
- Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (law enforcement, regulatory, trade policy): 1981–1985
- Assistant U.S. attorney, Criminal Division, Southern District of New York, 1970-1975
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

### Education

- University of Michigan Law School — J.D. (1966)
- Yale University — B.A. (1962)
- Graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1958.

### Additional information

- Senior status: Assumed September 30, 2006.
- Special counsel, Administrative Conference of the United States, 1987-1992
- Special Counsel, Administrative Conference of the U.S.: 1987–1992
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York: Appointed by President Ronald Reagan on June 25, 1985, confirmed July 19, 1985; served until December 19, 1989.
- Private practice, New York City, 1975-1981
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, Criminal Division, S.D.N.Y.: 1970–1975
- Private practice, New York City, 1969-1970
- State counsel, Republic of Botswana (Africa-Asia Public Service Fellowship), 1966-1968
- U.S. Marine Corps Reserve private first class, 1963-1967
- U.S. Marine Corps Reserves: 1963–1967
- Date of birth: 1940-01-01
- First cousin of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush and a first cousin once removed of President George W. Bush.
- Walker is married to Katharine K. Walker, has one daughter and three stepsons, and resides in Madison, Connecticut.
- Birth place: New York, NY

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### appellate oral argument

Scope: courtwide

In federal courts of appeals, oral argument is allowed unless a three-judge panel unanimously finds one of Rule 34's specified grounds for dispensing with it; the clerk provides the date, time, place, and time allocation.

Evidence excerpt: Oral argument must be allowed in every case unless a panel of three judges who have examined the briefs and record unanimously agrees that oral argument is unnecessary

[Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1389266)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1389266)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1389266)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3344/john-mercer-walker-jr/)
- [Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3344/john-mercer-walker-jr/)
- [Wikidata: John M. Walker, Jr.](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16105511)

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