Senate verifies Eastern Shore native as first LGBTQ federal judge in Virginia

NORFOLK, Va. – – The U.S. Senate on Tuesday verified Jamar Walker to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, making him the first openly gay federal judge in the state and the very first in the 4th Circuit.

It was a near party-line vote to approve Walker, 52-41.

Walker, 35, will replace Judge Raymond A. Jackson in the Norfolk division of the court. Jackson had been the first Black federal judge to serve in south Hampton Roads and is taking senior status.

An Eastern Shore native, Walker clerked for Jackson from 2011 to 2012.

NEW: We simply verified Jamar Walker to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia!

Judge Walker is eminently certified and makes history as the first openly LGBT federal judge for Virginia! pic.twitter.com/fYIQq7azDn
—-- Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) February 28, 2023

" We're pleased the Senate voted to verify Mr. Jamar Walker to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia after we recommended him to the president," Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine stated in a joint statement. "Mr. Walker brings substantial experience to the bench, and we are positive that he will serve Virginia and our country with fantastic difference."

Warner and Kaine spoke on the Senate flooring Monday about the historical nature of Walker's confirmation and had actually prompted their Senate associates to confirm him.

Speaking on the Senate floor with @TimKaine to press our colleagues to validate Jamar Walker to the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. He's incomparably qualified and would be the first honestly gay federal judge to preside in Virginia.

" For the last decade, he has been an invaluable property to the Virginia's legal community," Warner stated on the Senate flooring Monday, "bringing both his passion for public service and his individual life story."

The senators sent a letter to the president in March 2022 about Walker's nomination, and Biden announced it 4 months later on.

Jamar-Walker-letter-March-2022Download

Walker graduated from both the University of Virginia, and the UVA law school.