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Wilkins, William Walter

Born 1942 in Anderson, SC

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
Nominated by Ronald Reagan on July 9, 1981, to a seat vacated by Robert W. Hemphill. Confirmed by the Senate on July 20, 1981, and received commission on July 22, 1981. Service terminated on July 10, 1986, due to appointment to another judicial position.

Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Nominated by Ronald Reagan on June 3, 1986, to a seat vacated by Emory Marlin Sneeden. Confirmed by the Senate on June 13, 1986, and received commission on June 16, 1986. Served as chief judge, 2003-2007. Assumed senior status on July 1, 2007. Service terminated on October 5, 2008, due to retirement.

Education:
Davidson College, B.A., 1964
University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D., 1967

Professional Career:

U.S. Army captain, 1967-1969
U.S. Army Reserve lieutenant colonel, 1969-1983
South Carolina National Guard colonel, 1983-1994
Law clerk, Hon. Clement F. Haynsworth, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 1969-1970
Legal assistant, U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, 1970-1971
Private practice, Greenville, South Carolina, 1971-1978
Solicitor, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, South Carolina, 1974-1981
Chair, U.S. Sentencing Commission, 1985-1994
Member, Judicial Conference of the United States, 2003-2007