Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Kenneth R. Walker
Kenneth R. Walker was a judge on the Multnomah County Circuit Court in Oregon. He served from 2007 to 2019. The court has jurisdiction over Multnomah County and is located within the 4th Judicial District. He was appointed to the position by Governor Ted Kulongoski on February 28, 2007, and was re-elected in 2014.[1][2][3][4] He retired in 2019.[5]
In May 2018, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that Walker had violated a domestic assault victim's rights under the Oregon Constitution by refusing to allow her to finish reading her statement at the sentencing hearing of her abuser. For more, click here.
Elections
2014
See also: Oregon judicial elections, 2014
Walker ran for re-election to the Oregon Circuit Court, 4th Judicial District.
Primary: He was elected without opposition in the primary on May 20, 2014.
[1][3]
Education
Walker earned his B.A. in community service and public affairs from the University of Oregon in 1976. He earned his J.D. from the University of Oregon in 1980.[6]
Career
After graduating from law school, Walker began working for Marion-Polk Legal Aid. After two years in that position, he joined the Portland office of Metropolitan Public Defender Services. In 1990 he left to open the first African American law firm in Oregon. He was appointed to the Multnomah County Circuit Court by Governor Ted Kulongoski on February 28, 2007.[6]
Noteworthy events
Oregon Supreme Court rules Walker violated victim's rights
Walker received media attention in 2018 after a sentencing hearing during which he did not allow a domestic abuse victim to finish her victim impact statement. Oregon law allows victims to make statements during sentencing hearings. Walker interrupted the victim several times and then left the courtroom without allowing the victim to complete her statement, according to Oregonlive. Following the hearing, the district attorney's office moved for a new sentencing hearing because of Walker's interruptions.[7]
On May 2, 2018, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that Walker had violated the victim's constitutional right to be heard. The court ruled that while Walker's interruptions did not violate the victim's right, Walker's refusal to allow the victim to finish her statement did violate her right. The court ordered a new sentencing hearing for the defendant.[8]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Oregon Secretary of State, "Candidates for 2014 Primary Election," accessed April 14, 2014
- ↑ See: Judicial selection in Oregon
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Oregon Secretary of State, "Unofficial Election Results," May 20, 2014
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Governor Kulongoski Announces Judicial Appointments," February 28, 2007
- ↑ Oregon.gov, "Governor Brown Appoints Angela Franco Lucero to Multnomah County Circuit Court", August 12, 2019
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Oregon Secretary of State, "Judge of the Circuit Court, Kenneth R. Walker," accessed March 25, 2015
- ↑ Oregonlive, "Domestic violence victim's statement cut short by judge (Commentary)," February 25, 2018
- ↑ Oregon Live, "Judge Walker violated victim's right to be heard, Oregon Supreme Court rules," May 2, 2018
Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Oregon • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Oregon
State courts:
Oregon Supreme Court • Oregon Court of Appeals • Oregon Circuit Courts • Oregon Tax Court • Oregon County Courts • Oregon Justice Courts • Oregon Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Oregon • Oregon judicial elections • Judicial selection in Oregon
