Durbin Votes Against Nomination Of Justin Walker To D.C. Circuit Court

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after voting against the nomination of Justin Walker to the D.C. Circuit Court:

“Senate Republicans gave Justin Walker a lifetime appointment to the second highest court in the land for two main reasons: because Walker is a protégé of the Senate Majority Leader, and because he’s an outspoken critic of the Affordable Care Act. It is shameful that even in the middle of a public health pandemic, the Republican Party is continuing its attack on the Affordable Care Act.”

Easy Rest Bamboo Queen Mattress Only: $299.99+tax, Full Set: $449.99+tax

Shop Local

Chuck's Mattress Outlet

Get This Deal →

Walker is 38 years old and had no practical courtroom experience when he was confirmed on a party line vote as a federal district judge last October despite being rated “not qualified” by the American Bar Association’s peer review evaluation process. On July 2, 2018, Walker wrote a column in The Federalist publication in which he described the Supreme Court’s decision in NFIB v. Sebelius, which upheld the constitutionality of the ACA as an exercise of Congress’s tax power, as “an indefensible decision.” He also wrote that the Court’s rationale in that case was, “catastrophically accepted.” And while Walker was a siting federal judge, he publicly mocked the rationale of the NFIB decision during his ceremonial investiture in March 2020.

Durbin asked Judge Walker if he would commit to recuse himself from cases involving challenges to the ACA’s constitutionality in light of Walker’s public comments. Walker refused to make that commitment.

More like this:

Durbin Blasts Supreme Court Ruling On Firing Of Independent Agency Officials

Jun 29, 2026

Durbin Speaks Out Against Least Qualified Judicial Nominee Of Trump’s Second Term

Jun 2, 2026

Durbin Statement On The Supreme Court Decision In Trump V. Cook Denying The President’s Efforts To Fire Federal Governor Lisa Cook

Jun 29, 2026

Durbin Presses Trump’s Judicial Nominee About His Involvement In A Controversial Pro-Gun Group

May 2, 2026

Durbin Blasts Supreme Court Ruling Allowing End Of TPS For Syrians And Haitians

Jun 26, 2026