John Mercer Walker Jr. at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- Jurisdiction
- National federal courts · Federal
- Judicial service
- November 27, 1989–present
John Mercer Walker Jr.
Judge · U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Available research
Biography
Professional career
- Special counsel, Administrative Conference of the United States, 1987-1992
- Assistant secretary of the treasury, 1981-1985
- Private practice, New York City, 1975-1981
- Assistant U.S. attorney, Criminal Division, Southern District of New York, 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
Judicial service
- Judge, District Court, S.D. New York, 1985-1989
- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1989-2006
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Education
- Yale University · B.A., 1962
- University of Michigan Law School
- Phillips Exeter Academy
Personal record
Born 1940 · New York, NY
Courtroom rules and guidance
Appellate Oral Argument
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.
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 unnecessaryFederal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/1389266CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3344/john-mercer-walker-jr/Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure