William Walter Wilkins
Encyclopedia
William Walter Wilkins is a former United States federal judge
.
Born in Anderson, South Carolina
, Wilkins received a B.A.
from Davidson College
in 1964 and a J.D.
from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1967. He served on active duty for two years, in active reserves, and the South Carolina National Guard
for twenty-five years. He holds the retired rank of Brigadier General. He was a law clerk
to then chief judge, Clement F. Haynsworth, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit from 1969 to 1970. He was a legal assistant to U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond
from 1970 to 1971. He was in private practice in Greenville, South Carolina
from 1971 to 1978, also serving as the Solicitor (District Attorney) of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, South Carolina from 1974 to 1981.
On July 9, 1981, Wilkins was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina
. Wilkins was confirmed by the United States Senate
on July 20, 1981, and received his commission on July 22, 1981. He was the newly elected President's first appointment to the federal bench in the nation. He was named the first chair of the United States Sentencing Commission
in 1985, a position he held until 1994. On June 3, 1986, Reagan nominated Wilkins to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
. Wilkins was again confirmed by the United States Senate on June 13, 1986, and received his commission on June 16, 1986. He served as chief judge from 2003 to 2007, assuming senior status
on July 1, 2007, and retiring completely on October 5, 2008 in order to re-enter the private practice of law. He presently leads Nexsen Pruet law firm's Appellate Advocacy, Corporate Compliance / Crisis Management, and White Collar Crime practices. He is also very active with the firm's business litigation practice.
|-
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530...
, Wilkins received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Davidson College
Davidson College
Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. The college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked in the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine, although it has recently dropped to 11th in U.S. News...
in 1964 and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1967. He served on active duty for two years, in active reserves, and the South Carolina National Guard
South Carolina National Guard
The South Carolina National Guard consists of the South Carolina Army National Guard and the South Carolina Air National Guard . American law specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States military force empowered...
for twenty-five years. He holds the retired rank of Brigadier General. He was a law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
to then chief judge, Clement F. Haynsworth, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit from 1969 to 1970. He was a legal assistant to U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond
Strom Thurmond
James Strom Thurmond was an American politician who served as a United States Senator. He also ran for the Presidency of the United States in 1948 as the segregationist States Rights Democratic Party candidate, receiving 2.4% of the popular vote and 39 electoral votes...
from 1970 to 1971. He was in private practice in Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
from 1971 to 1978, also serving as the Solicitor (District Attorney) of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, South Carolina from 1974 to 1981.
On July 9, 1981, Wilkins was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina
United States District Court for the District of South Carolina
The United States District Court for the District of South Carolina is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of South Carolina...
. Wilkins was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on July 20, 1981, and received his commission on July 22, 1981. He was the newly elected President's first appointment to the federal bench in the nation. He was named the first chair of the United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
The United States Sentencing Commission is an independent agency of the judicial branch of the federal government of the United States. It is responsible for articulating the sentencing guidelines for the United States federal courts...
in 1985, a position he held until 1994. On June 3, 1986, Reagan nominated Wilkins to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is a federal court located in Richmond, Virginia, with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:*District of Maryland*Eastern District of North Carolina...
. Wilkins was again confirmed by the United States Senate on June 13, 1986, and received his commission on June 16, 1986. He served as chief judge from 2003 to 2007, assuming senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on July 1, 2007, and retiring completely on October 5, 2008 in order to re-enter the private practice of law. He presently leads Nexsen Pruet law firm's Appellate Advocacy, Corporate Compliance / Crisis Management, and White Collar Crime practices. He is also very active with the firm's business litigation practice.
Sources
|-|-