The Honorable Judge Carl Anthony Walker is a native of Chicago, Illinois. He was appointed to the Circuit Court of Cook County in April of 2006, and he has served in Traffic, Domestic Violence, Criminal Misdemeanor, Preliminary Hearings, and Eviction Court. Judge Walker is currently assigned to the Juvenile Justice Division where he hears cases involving minors charged with crimes ranging from retail theft to murder.
The Chicago Bar Association says, “Judge Walker is an enthusiastic, passionate, and hardworking judge. He possesses an excellent temperament and is well versed in both civil and criminal law.”
The Cook County Bar Association says that Judge Walker is “an exceptional candidate of character and legal skills . . . [who] demonstrates an outstanding commitment to sensitivity and diversity that parallels the goals of the Cook County Bar Association.”
The Chicago Council of Lawyers says that Judge Walker is “mild-mannered, fair and predictable. He is good at diffusing situations especially with bad family and parenting issues, and [he] is respectful of everyone in his courtroom”. The Chicago Council of Lawyers also says that “Judge Walker is . . . knowledgeable, and brings sufficient legal ability and impressive compassion.”
Asian American Bar Association RecommendedBlack Women Lawyers’ Association RecommendedChicago Bar Association QualifiedChicago Council of Lawyers QualifiedCook County Bar Association Recommended Hispanic Lawyers Association QualifiedDecalogue Society of Lawyers Recommended Illinois State Bar Association QualifiedLesbian and Gay Bar Association Recommended Puerto Rican Bar Association QualifiedHellenic Bar Association Recommended Women’s Bar Association of Illinois Recommended
Judge Walker is admitted to the practice of law in both Illinois and Iowa. Prior to ascending to the Bench, he was engaged in a very busy private practice of law, and he served as an Administrative Hearing Officer with the City of Chicago Department of Administrative Hearings.
Judge Walker attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After earning an undergraduate degree in Accountancy, he became a Certified Public Accountant. Subsequently, he attended The University of Iowa Law School, where he served on the Iowa Law Review. Judge Walker’s efforts to make the law school atmosphere more hospitable to students of all backgrounds made him a recipient of the law school’s prestigious Human Rights Award.
Judge Walker has been admitted into the Distinguished Service Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. because of his extraordinary service to the fraternity and the community at large. In addition, he has received the Vanguard Award, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Monarch Award for Law, & Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. 2012 Civil Servant of the Year Award. Judge Walker was featured in the Daily Law Bulletin as a Judge who “applies restraint in the use of his power.”
Judge Walker is married, and he and his wife have three children. They are members of the Trinity United Church of Christ. Judge Walker is often referred to as “A BREATH OF FRESH AIR!