Lance Walker took another step toward becoming a federal judge Thursday.
Walker, who lives in Falmouth and is currently a Superior Court justice in Cumberland County, was unanimously approved for appointment to U.S. District Court in Maine by the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday morning. The endorsement was by voice vote.
Walker was nominated for the federal bench by President Trump in April. It’s Trump’s first appointment of a federal judge in Maine since he became president in January 2017.
It’s not clear when Walker’s nomination will go before the full Senate. About 40 other federal judges have cleared the Judiciary Committee but are waiting for votes before the full Senate.
Both Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King have backed Walker’s nomination.
Walker was appointed as a judge in Maine District Court in 2014 by Gov. Paul LePage and was elevated to Superior Court a year later. Before he became a judge, Walker was partner in the Portland law firm of Norman, Hanson and DeTroy.
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